What the data says about lawyer pay in San Jose
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with CA, and with other jobs in San Jose.
How San Jose compares with United States and CA
The gap to the lowest-paying observed metro, Jacksonville, is 136% (US$127,920). The runner-up is San Francisco at US$212,500.
Inside CA, San Jose is the best-paying of 4 observed metros, 36% above their US$221,600 average. For comparison: Los Angeles (US$194,410), San Diego (US$178,220) and San Francisco (US$212,500).
What the San Jose median is worth after tax and rent
Price levels in San Jose (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$301,300.
Its place holds after a cost-of-living adjustment — 1st of 21 either way.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$19,400 monthly (23% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 9% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$15,890 in the black.
San Jose vs nearby CA metros
Los Angeles (also in CA) pays US$194,410, 35% less than San Jose; modeled monthly leftover is US$6,140 lower.
A lawyer moving from San Jose to San Diego (also in CA) would see the median fall 41% to US$178,220, with US$7,160 less left over monthly in our model.
A lawyer moving from San Jose to New York (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median fall 31% to US$208,880, with US$5,220 less left over monthly in our model.
Lawyer vs other occupations in San Jose
No tracked occupation in San Jose out-earns lawyer (9 roles compared); the runner-up, Registered Nurse, sits at US$216,740.
Where San Jose stands for junior and senior lawyers
Entry and senior pay rank the same in San Jose: 1st of 21 at both the 10th and the 90th percentile.
No observed metro has a higher 90th percentile for this role than San Jose.
Spread between low and high lawyer pay in San Jose
The 90th percentile (US$421,000) is 3.3× the 10th (US$129,350), a wide band that usually reflects different seniority levels and employer types under one title.