Entry-level Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary in San Jose, CA

Based on 10 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Stanford, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale.

Also listed as: Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Manager

Median salary$121,202
Middle 50%$80.5k–$152.8k
vs. all levels here−24%comparison median $160,219
Filings10FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $72,498 and $173,797.
PercentileSalary
10th$74,025
25th$80,486
50th (median)$121,202
75th$152,848
90th$162,973

Cost of living

San Jose's median entry-level Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary of $121,202 is worth about $109,800 at national average prices.

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

Compared with all workers here

All Natural Sciences Managers in the San Jose, CA area earned a median of $239,200+ in May 2025 (1,160 employed). The H-1B median here is $121,202, 54% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
The Leland Stanford, Jr Universitytoo few5
Guardant Healthtoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $121,202 10
Mid-level · Level II – 0
Senior · Level III too few 2
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$62,941$121,20210

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.