Senior Biochemist salary in San Jose, CA
Based on 12 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Stanford, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Saratoga.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,344 |
| 25th | $73,965 |
| 50th (median) | $84,875 |
| 75th | $140,250 |
| 90th | $147,660 |
Cost of living
San Jose's median senior Biochemist salary of $84,875 is worth about $76,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Biochemists and Biophysicists in the San Jose, CA area earned a median of $124,050 in May 2025 (190 employed). The H-1B median here is $84,875, 32% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | too few | 6 |
| Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $78,000 | 125 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,676 | 44 |
| Senior · Level III | $84,875 | 12 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $50,149 | $78,000 | 125 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $60,590 | $90,676 | 44 |
| Senior · Level III | $71,053 | $84,875 | 12 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.