San Jose Employment

Employment and Industries in the San Jose, California Area

San Jose is the tenth largest city in the nation. Due to the San Jose area's large concentration of high-technology, engineering, microprocessor and computer firms, it's known as Silicon Valley. The region is home to more than 7,000 technology companies. The San Jose area has more high-tech firms than any other area in the country. In addition, about 35% of all venture capital funds in the nation are invested in San Jose and Silicon Valley firms. Fortune Magazine named San Jose as the epicenter of information technology.

High technology is the primary employer in the region. The supporting businesses and services industries also provide a large number of jobs. The area also has a large number of high-level jobs. San Jose also has one of the highest median incomes for cities with a population over 280,000.

The primary sectors for employment in San Jose are:

  • High Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Government
  • Construction
  • Education
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Computer specialists
  • Finance
  • Information

Some of the jobs which are more prevalent in San Jose than most of the nation's other cities are semiconductor processors, computer hardware engineers, sales engineers, computer software engineers, systems software; electronics engineers, electromechanical equipment assemblers, electrical engineers and engineering managers.

The municipality is home to the headquarters of numerous prominent companies including Cisco, Adobe Systems, BEA, eBay and Sunpower. Prominent companies with major facilities in San Jose include IBM, Hitachi, Lockheed Martin, Flextronics and Hewlett-Packard. San Jose has 25 businesses which include over 1,000 employees.

According to the City of San Jose's, Office of Economic Development, the education level of the workforce in the San Jose metropolitan area is one of the highest in the nation. The local colleges put thousands of computer science and engineering graduates into the economy on an annual basis. Regarding the population over the age of 25, approximately 32% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

The Local Preference Policy is designed to encourage local firms to work with other local firms and collaborate with the city to increase job growth and to keep a higher percentage of the city's spending in the regional economy. A large state Enterprise Zone provides companies operating in the zone significant tax savings and other types of financial benefits.

The Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Network provides resources for job seekers and offers services to companies. Local companies have access to a variety of bonds, loans and special funds. The SBA/Cisco Systems/San Jose Entrepreneur Center Association offers a variety of assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Notable information about San Jose: The cost of living in San Jose and the region is among the highest in the state of California and the nation. San Jose is one of the highest patent producing cities in the nation. In 2007, the estimated median household income was $76,963. According to the City of San Jose's, Office of Economic Development the San Jose metropolitan area has the highest productivity level of any region in the United States.

Shown below are the primary employers in San Jose:

  • Santa Clara County
  • Cisco Systems
  • The city of San Jose
  • IBM
  • Hitachi
  • San Jose Unified School District
  • Xilinx
  • Agilent Technologies
  • Adobe Systems
  • KLA Tencor Instruments
  • Good Samaritan Health System
  • Cadence Design Systems
  • Novellus Systems
  • Sanmina-SCI
  • San Jose State University
  • Avago Technologies
  • HP Pavilion at San Jose
  • Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
  • Santa Teresa Community Hospital
  • Valley Medical Center

San Jose companies may obtain assistance from business organizations such as:

The San Jose Business Journal provides up-to-date information regarding the business activities in San Jose.

Jobs in San Jose

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations1140880$83,960$40.37100
2Computer and Mathematical Occupations144530$133,790$64.323
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations125160$52,250$25.1213.75
4Management Occupations99130$172,560$82.966.35
5Sales and Related Occupations98480$60,690$29.189.5
6Business and Financial Operations Occupations86390$97,250$46.755.35
7Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations84570$33,020$15.888.7
8Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers81950$145,730$70.060.65
9Educational Instruction and Library Occupations60250$69,800$33.566
10Production Occupations53070$46,080$22.165.6
11Transportation and Material Moving Occupations52140$42,280$20.336.7
12Architecture and Engineering Occupations51340$122,450$58.871.7
13Healthcare Support Occupations45370$36,730$17.662.85
14Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations44490$124,710$59.965.85
15Construction and Extraction Occupations37650$68,390$32.884.6
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations29900$39,770$19.123.6
17Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations29570$63,230$30.43.75
18Home Health and Personal Care Aides26730$30,150$14.50
19Fast Food and Counter Workers23340$30,470$14.652.45
20Retail Salespersons22650$38,400$18.462.7
21Personal Care and Service Occupations21600$37,920$18.234.65
22Protective Service Occupations20030$67,970$32.682.2
23Office Clerks, General19900$46,690$22.451.9
24Cashiers19060$32,680$15.712.2
25Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations17820$76,740$36.91.8
26General and Operations Managers17630$162,740$78.241.5
27Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners17540$37,350$17.961.5
28Registered Nurses16650$140,740$67.671.95
29Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other16370$100,430$48.280.7
30Waiters and Waitresses15270$31,620$15.21.65
31Computer and Information Systems Managers15220$215,090$103.410.3
32Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand15160$39,760$19.111.8
33Customer Service Representatives15010$47,750$22.961.75
34Community and Social Service Occupations14710$67,970$32.681.75
35Accountants and Auditors13820$90,750$43.630.9
36Computer Occupations, All Other13810$137,370$66.040.3
37Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations13790$93,760$45.080.8
38Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive13500$48,720$23.421.4
39Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists13280$98,640$47.420.45
40Computer User Support Specialists12850$81,710$39.280.4
41Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel12230$84,320$40.540.7
42Computer Systems Analysts12190$122,990$59.130.4
43Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks9880$53,890$25.911.05
44Security Guards9660$40,300$19.380.7
45Cooks, Restaurant9330$34,460$16.570.9
46First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers9310$70,130$33.710.95
47Stockers and Order Fillers9160$35,400$17.021.25
48Computer Hardware Engineers8660$161,210$77.50
49Legal Occupations8450$175,190$84.230.8
50Management Analysts8320$120,750$58.050.55
51Financial Managers8270$177,940$85.550.4
52Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers8220$46,410$22.310.2
53Sales Managers8190$174,530$83.910.3
54Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products8010$85,710$41.20.85
55Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products7970$108,410$52.120.2
56Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators7590$38,890$18.70.8
57Maintenance and Repair Workers, General7500$54,800$26.350.9
58Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants6930$54,310$26.110.4
59Food Preparation Workers6790$31,750$15.260.5
60Marketing Managers6600$199,710$96.020.2
61Human Resources Specialists6260$84,730$40.740.4
62Electronics Engineers, Except Computer6190$141,660$68.110.1
63Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants6160$82,240$39.540.35
64Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other6000$110,470$53.110.2
65Architectural and Engineering Managers5860$203,310$97.740.1
66First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers5820$51,560$24.790.95
67Lawyers5680$218,420$105.010.5
68Construction Laborers5600$53,770$25.850.9
69Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks5500$40,880$19.650.4
70Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians5220$71,920$34.580.1
71Carpenters5210$63,550$30.550.6
72Medical Assistants5100$46,450$22.330.45
73Receptionists and Information Clerks5100$38,310$18.420.7
74Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers5080$50,580$24.320.35
75Industrial Engineers5050$121,940$58.630.2
76Engineers, All Other5000$127,330$61.210.1
77Mechanical Engineers4920$125,640$60.40.2
78Cooks, Fast Food4880$27,250$13.10.3
79Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers4850$53,460$25.71.2
80Network and Computer Systems Administrators4790$121,440$58.390.2
81Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners4660$36,330$17.470.9
82Electrical Engineers4630$138,450$66.560.1
83Nursing Assistants4570$39,800$19.130.95
84Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers4490$43,670$210.75
85First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers4450$47,130$22.660.6
86Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education4220$40,690$19.560.3
87Light Truck Drivers4050$48,610$23.370.6
88Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics3970$59,010$28.370.5
89Bartenders3910$34,290$16.480.4
90Dishwashers3880$29,280$14.080.3
91Electricians3870$77,910$37.460.45
92Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers3870$127,090$61.10.4
93Dental Assistants3860$52,380$25.180.2
94Buyers and Purchasing Agents3800$82,460$39.650.25
95Packers and Packagers, Hand3640$32,000$15.390.4
96Billing and Posting Clerks3520$51,690$24.850.3
97Computer Programmers3510$113,990$54.80.15
98Counter and Rental Clerks3490$42,550$20.460.3
99Advertising Sales Agents3430$74,550$35.840.1
100Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers3370$72,390$34.80.1
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

San Jose Colleges
San Jose colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near San Jose Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$83,9601,140,880
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$133,790144,530
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$52,250125,160
Management Occupations$172,56099,130
Sales and Related Occupations$60,69098,480
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$97,25086,390
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$33,02084,570
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$145,73081,950
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$69,80060,250
Production Occupations$46,08053,070
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$42,28052,140
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$122,45051,340
Healthcare Support Occupations$36,73045,370
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$124,71044,490
Construction and Extraction Occupations$68,39037,650
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$39,77029,900
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$63,23029,570
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,15026,730
Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,47023,340
Retail Salespersons$38,40022,650
Personal Care and Service Occupations$37,92021,600
Protective Service Occupations$67,97020,030
Office Clerks, General$46,69019,900
Cashiers$32,68019,060
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$76,74017,820
General and Operations Managers$162,74017,630
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,35017,540
Registered Nurses$140,74016,650
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$100,43016,370
Waiters and Waitresses$31,62015,270
Computer and Information Systems Managers$215,09015,220
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$39,76015,160
Customer Service Representatives$47,75015,010
Community and Social Service Occupations$67,97014,710
Accountants and Auditors$90,75013,820
Computer Occupations, All Other$137,37013,810
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$93,76013,790
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$48,72013,500
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$98,64013,280
Computer User Support Specialists$81,71012,850
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$84,32012,230
Computer Systems Analysts$122,99012,190
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$53,8909,880
Security Guards$40,3009,660
Cooks, Restaurant$34,4609,330
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$70,1309,310
Stockers and Order Fillers$35,4009,160
Computer Hardware Engineers$161,2108,660
Legal Occupations$175,1908,450
Management Analysts$120,7508,320

Work Paying Relatively Well in the San Jose, California Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$83,9601,140,880
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$133,790144,530
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$52,250125,160
Management Occupations$172,56099,130
Sales and Related Occupations$60,69098,480
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$97,25086,390
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$33,02084,570
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$145,73081,950
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$69,80060,250
Production Occupations$46,08053,070
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$42,28052,140
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$122,45051,340
Healthcare Support Occupations$36,73045,370
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$124,71044,490
Construction and Extraction Occupations$68,39037,650
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$39,77029,900
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$63,23029,570
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$30,15026,730
Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,47023,340
Retail Salespersons$38,40022,650
Personal Care and Service Occupations$37,92021,600
Protective Service Occupations$67,97020,030
Office Clerks, General$46,69019,900
Cashiers$32,68019,060
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$76,74017,820
General and Operations Managers$162,74017,630
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,35017,540
Registered Nurses$140,74016,650
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$100,43016,370
Waiters and Waitresses$31,62015,270
Computer and Information Systems Managers$215,09015,220
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$39,76015,160
Customer Service Representatives$47,75015,010
Community and Social Service Occupations$67,97014,710
Accountants and Auditors$90,75013,820
Computer Occupations, All Other$137,37013,810
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$93,76013,790
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$48,72013,500
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$98,64013,280
Computer User Support Specialists$81,71012,850
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$84,32012,230
Computer Systems Analysts$122,99012,190
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$53,8909,880
Security Guards$40,3009,660
Cooks, Restaurant$34,4609,330
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$70,1309,310
Stockers and Order Fillers$35,4009,160
Computer Hardware Engineers$161,2108,660
Legal Occupations$175,1908,450
Management Analysts$120,7508,320

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