Expert HR Specialist salary in San Jose, CA
Based on 42 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Cupertino.
Also listed as: Recruiter
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $150,074 |
| 25th | $153,125 |
| 50th (median) | $168,000 |
| 75th | $179,525 |
| 90th | $195,459 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $141,773 | $120,500 | $161,507 | 14 |
| FY2021 | $117,494 | $100,630 | $148,750 | 18 |
| FY2022 | $131,388 | $120,000 | $157,593 | 23 |
| FY2023 | $150,000 | $139,000 | $164,000 | 19 |
| FY2024 | $175,000 | $156,000 | $200,000 | 13 |
| FY2025 | $170,100 | $152,250 | $181,075 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $166,500 | $153,575 | $178,825 | 22 |
Cost of living
San Jose's median expert HR Specialist salary of $168,000 is worth about $152,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Human Resources Specialists in the San Jose, CA area earned a median of $112,140 in May 2025 (7,970 employed). The H-1B median here is $168,000, 50% higher.
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
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $74,000 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $107,900 | 28 |
| Senior · Level III | $135,000 | 23 |
| Expert · Level IV | $168,000 | 42 |
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 | $73,112 | $74,000 | 21 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $91,437 | $107,900 | 28 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,862 | $135,000 | 23 |
| Expert · Level IV | $150,738 | $168,000 | 42 |
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.