Mid-level Economist salary in San Jose, CA

Based on 17 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Stanford, Mountain View, Santa Clara.

Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist

Median salary$146,616
Middle 50%$106k–$180k
vs. all levels here−17%comparison median $177,412
Filings17FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $95,800 and $194,250.
PercentileSalary
10th$102,462
25th$106,000
50th (median)$146,616
75th$180,000
90th$188,700

Cost of living

San Jose's median mid-level Economist salary of $146,616 is worth about $132,800 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Amazontoo few6
The Leland Stanford, Jr Universitytoo few4

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I – 0
Mid-level · Level II $146,616 17
Senior · Level III too few 2
Expert · Level IV too few 2

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$118,810$146,61617

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.