High paying entry level jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

These occupations in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA run 10.4% above the national average (2024), so a San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA salary is worth about 0.91× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

OccupationMedian, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · Employed

1Lawyers$301,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$129,350 – $421,0006,040
2Nurse Practitioners$231,560
Master's degree
$163,670 – $283,4101,580
3Physician Assistants$223,640
Master's degree
$100,240 – $287,4201,030
4Computer and Information Research Scientists$218,420
Master's degree
$133,270 – $310,1902,210
5Registered Nurses$216,740
Bachelor's degree
$124,140 – $235,19022,930
6Software Developers$213,110
Bachelor's degree
$138,420 – $289,15087,350
7Computer Hardware Engineers$209,860
Bachelor's degree
$141,590 – $284,4007,940
8Dentists, General$207,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$124,470 – $294,2901,130
9Web and Digital Interface Designers$201,260
Bachelor's degree
$113,680 – $285,7304,400
10Pharmacists$199,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$151,900 – $234,0801,960
11Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$194,370
Bachelor's degree
$104,620 – $269,7805,970
12Electrical Engineers$187,060
Bachelor's degree
$116,900 – $258,1004,160
13Data Scientists$185,080
Bachelor's degree
$109,740 – $282,8406,060
14Computer Occupations, All Other$184,430
Bachelor's degree
$98,340 – $290,24016,680
15Aerospace Engineers$181,630
Bachelor's degree
$127,490 – $254,880930
16Physicists$173,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$122,840 – $302,040440
17Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$173,150
Associate's degree
$100,130 – $213,010500
18Engineers, All Other$169,650
Bachelor's degree
$94,240 – $266,0304,970
19Mechanical Engineers$168,030
Bachelor's degree
$105,400 – $217,5305,540
20Web Developers$166,670
Bachelor's degree
$89,030 – $233,9901,130
21Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$166,530
Bachelor's degree
$84,240 – $215,1306,480
22Financial Risk Specialists$166,240
Bachelor's degree
$100,120 – $221,110480
23Business Teachers, Postsecondary$160,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,920 – $324,590830
24Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$159,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$90,730 – $204,2902,150
25Computer Systems Analysts$157,140
Bachelor's degree
$92,190 – $214,4207,260
26Special Effects Artists and Animators$156,950
Bachelor's degree
$99,280 – $215,680510
27Materials Engineers$156,730
Bachelor's degree
$101,450 – $218,760550
28Computer Programmers$154,920
Bachelor's degree
$81,750 – $202,640980
29Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$154,850
Associate's degree
$98,910 – $185,3401,000
30Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$154,760
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,790 – $336,530520
31Respiratory Therapists$149,680
Associate's degree
$98,000 – $178,5801,060
32Financial and Investment Analysts$144,910
Bachelor's degree
$93,190 – $220,2803,880
33Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$141,960
Bachelor's degree
$66,660 – $251,75012,710
34Commercial and Industrial Designers$141,310
Bachelor's degree
$83,340 – $211,100410
35Dental Hygienists$139,990
Associate's degree
$128,620 – $156,8501,620
36Physical Therapists$139,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,000 – $171,5601,460
37Database Administrators$138,620
Bachelor's degree
$83,870 – $217,830580
38Industrial Engineers$136,950
Bachelor's degree
$97,480 – $206,1904,800
39Occupational Therapists$136,870
Master's degree
$97,450 – $169,990840
40Optometrists$135,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$134,370 – $207,720580
41Project Management Specialists$135,120
Bachelor's degree
$82,920 – $212,34010,300
42Biological Scientists, All Other$133,790
Bachelor's degree
$81,280 – $217,240610
43Network and Computer Systems Administrators$133,360
Bachelor's degree
$78,530 – $198,8602,460
44Civil Engineers$130,280
Bachelor's degree
$81,790 – $205,3303,170
45Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$128,980
Bachelor's degree
$78,980 – $197,220830
46Operations Research Analysts$123,360
Bachelor's degree
$80,290 – $201,930920
47Accountants and Auditors$121,700
Bachelor's degree
$78,440 – $196,89013,180
48Special Education Teachers, Middle School$121,070
Bachelor's degree
$78,660 – $134,250360
49Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$117,640
Bachelor's degree
$74,590 – $148,320400
50Public Relations Specialists$117,620
Bachelor's degree
$61,130 – $212,9602,200

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianSan Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$301,320	$129,350 – $421,000	6,040
2	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$231,560	$163,670 – $283,410	1,580
3	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$223,640	$100,240 – $287,420	1,030
4	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$218,420	$133,270 – $310,190	2,210
5	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$216,740	$124,140 – $235,190	22,930
6	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$213,110	$138,420 – $289,150	87,350
7	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$209,860	$141,590 – $284,400	7,940
8	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$207,910	$124,470 – $294,290	1,130
9	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$201,260	$113,680 – $285,730	4,400
10	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$199,040	$151,900 – $234,080	1,960
11	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$194,370	$104,620 – $269,780	5,970
12	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$187,060	$116,900 – $258,100	4,160
13	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$185,080	$109,740 – $282,840	6,060
14	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$184,430	$98,340 – $290,240	16,680
15	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$181,630	$127,490 – $254,880	930
16	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$173,450	$122,840 – $302,040	440
17	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$173,150	$100,130 – $213,010	500
18	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$169,650	$94,240 – $266,030	4,970
19	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$168,030	$105,400 – $217,530	5,540
20	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$166,670	$89,030 – $233,990	1,130
21	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$166,530	$84,240 – $215,130	6,480
22	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$166,240	$100,120 – $221,110	480
23	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$160,090	$74,920 – $324,590	830
24	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$159,300	$90,730 – $204,290	2,150
25	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$157,140	$92,190 – $214,420	7,260
26	Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsBachelor's degree	$156,950	$99,280 – $215,680	510
27	Materials EngineersBachelor's degree	$156,730	$101,450 – $218,760	550
28	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$154,920	$81,750 – $202,640	980
29	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$154,850	$98,910 – $185,340	1,000
30	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$154,760	$103,790 – $336,530	520
31	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$149,680	$98,000 – $178,580	1,060
32	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$144,910	$93,190 – $220,280	3,880
33	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$141,960	$66,660 – $251,750	12,710
34	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$141,310	$83,340 – $211,100	410
35	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$139,990	$128,620 – $156,850	1,620
36	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$139,000	$104,000 – $171,560	1,460
37	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$138,620	$83,870 – $217,830	580
38	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$136,950	$97,480 – $206,190	4,800
39	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$136,870	$97,450 – $169,990	840
40	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$135,330	$134,370 – $207,720	580
41	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$135,120	$82,920 – $212,340	10,300
42	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$133,790	$81,280 – $217,240	610
43	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$133,360	$78,530 – $198,860	2,460
44	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$130,280	$81,790 – $205,330	3,170
45	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$128,980	$78,980 – $197,220	830
46	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$123,360	$80,290 – $201,930	920
47	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$121,700	$78,440 – $196,890	13,180
48	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$121,070	$78,660 – $134,250	360
49	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$117,640	$74,590 – $148,320	400
50	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$117,620	$61,130 – $212,960	2,200

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

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