Registered Nurse pay in San Jose, by the numbers
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with CA, and with other jobs in San Jose.
Registered Nurse pay in San Jose: national and in-state ranking
Second place goes to San Francisco at US$186,610, 14% lower; at the other end, Jacksonville pays US$83,520.
Inside CA, San Jose is the best-paying of 4 observed metros, 28% above their US$169,600 average. For comparison: Los Angeles (US$135,560), San Diego (US$139,520) and San Francisco (US$186,610).
Is US$216,740 a good salary in San Jose?
Living costs are close to the baseline (COL index 100), so the median's buying power, about US$216,700, is near its face value.
Adjusting for prices does not move San Jose in the ranking: it is 1st of 21 on both cash and buying power.
Run the median through our simplified tax model (19% effective) and about US$14,700 lands each month. Budget US$1,650 for a modeled 1-bedroom — 11% of pay — and other modeled costs, and roughly US$11,170 remains.
San Jose vs nearby CA metros
In Los Angeles — also in CA — the median is US$135,560 (-37% vs San Jose), and the modeled budget leaves US$5,140 less each month.
In San Diego — also in CA — the median is US$139,520 (-36% vs San Jose), and the modeled budget leaves US$4,890 less each month.
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$119,720 (-45% vs San Jose), and the modeled budget leaves US$6,150 less each month.
Where Registered Nurse ranks among San Jose jobs
Of the 9 roles we track in San Jose, Registered Nurse is 2nd by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$301,320).
Closest neighbours in the San Jose list: Software Engineer at US$213,110 (-2%).
Where San Jose stands for junior and senior registered nurses
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 registered nurse pay in San Jose
Offers in San Jose vary less than for many roles: US$124,140 at the 10th percentile and US$235,190 at the 90th (1.9×).