Electrical Engineer (R&D) salary in San Jose, CA
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Palo Alto, Stanford.
Also listed as: Researcher Iii Electrical Engineering
Median salary$97,614
Middle 50%$83.4k–$111.3k
vs. national median+3%comparison median $95,000
Filings19FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k$140k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,106 |
| 25th | $83,354 |
| 50th (median) | $97,614 |
| 75th | $111,342 |
| 90th | $120,386 |
Cost of living
San Jose's median Electrical Engineer (R&D) salary of $97,614 is worth about $88,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Research Institute | $97,090 | 11 |
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | too few | 4 |
| Alliance for Energy Innovation | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | $97,614 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 6 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior · Level III | $77,106 | $97,614 | 10 |
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.