Free tool for urban professionals
Bay Area salary map
The same job pays very differently across the Bay Area. A software developer in Silicon Valley earns a median of $219,076. The same title in Solano County earns $140,763. Before you name a number, know which Bay Area you are negotiating in.
Pick a role. Each column rises with pay for that region. Tap a column for the full band, the headcount, and a direct line to check an offer against it.
Where the numbers come from
Every figure is an annual wage from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, published by the California Employment Development Department and updated to the first quarter of 2026. It covers every industry and every employer size, which makes it a steadier benchmark than any single job board. The regions follow the state’s metropolitan areas: San Francisco and San Mateo, Oakland and the East Bay, San Jose and Silicon Valley, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano and Santa Cruz.
How to use it in a negotiation
Read the map next to the pay range on the job posting. California requires employers with 15 or more employees to post one, and any employer must give you the range on request. If the posted range sits below the local median for your role, you have a data point that has nothing to do with your opinion of yourself. If the offer lands near the bottom of both the posted range and the local band, the counteroffer calculator will show what closing that gap is worth over a career.
How to use it in hiring
Setting a range for a new role starts with the local market. An employer in Oakland who benchmarks a Human Resources Manager against San Francisco numbers will overpay by about 12% at the median; one who benchmarks against Sonoma will lose candidates. Pick the region where the work happens, start from the middle half of the band, and document why the range is what it is. That record is what protects you under California’s pay transparency and equal pay laws.
What the percentiles mean
The 25th percentile means a quarter of people in that role in that region earn less. The median is the middle. The 75th percentile means a quarter earn more. Very high salaries can be capped in the survey, so the top of each band understates what the highest earners make. Where the state did not publish wages for a region, the map says so rather than guessing.
About these numbers. Results are estimates for planning, built from the sources and California rules described on this page as of its last update. They are not a guarantee of pay, an offer, or a compliance outcome, and they are not legal advice. See the terms.
Every figure in the map, as tables
Annual pay by region from the California Employment Development Department Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, updated to the first quarter of 2026. "Not published" means the state withheld the figure for that region.
Registered Nurse
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 3,720 | $135,870 | $179,436 | $215,169 |
| Napa | 1,610 | Not published | ||
| Solano | 4,120 | $143,857 | $208,981 | $222,704 |
| Marin | 2,250 | $150,627 | $191,829 | $199,905 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 17,050 | $162,718 | $205,224 | $230,039 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 22,450 | $135,341 | $163,998 | $210,794 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 22,930 | $169,670 | $222,807 | $229,767 |
| Santa Cruz | 1,750 | $125,734 | $175,746 | $216,249 |
| California statewide | 338,940 | $125,867 | $144,197 | $178,018 |
Software Developer
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 560 | $120,162 | $152,791 | $177,113 |
| Napa | 130 | $123,801 | $157,417 | $183,414 |
| Solano | 330 | $111,589 | $140,763 | $174,132 |
| Marin | 1,050 | $132,280 | $168,583 | $212,999 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 53,020 | $171,694 | $206,151 | $227,980 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 14,960 | $142,190 | $176,513 | $216,645 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 87,350 | $178,511 | $219,076 | $232,409 |
| Santa Cruz | 540 | $127,687 | $161,302 | $180,639 |
| California statewide | 284,390 | $140,825 | $179,292 | $222,735 |
HR Specialist
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 920 | $65,236 | $82,908 | $104,931 |
| Napa | 310 | $70,432 | $85,816 | $106,782 |
| Solano | 650 | $75,913 | $84,555 | $106,446 |
| Marin | 680 | $75,258 | $96,853 | $128,675 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 9,330 | $84,139 | $110,205 | $153,888 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 6,410 | $78,870 | $99,876 | $130,204 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 7,970 | $86,579 | $114,021 | $156,035 |
| Santa Cruz | 450 | $73,116 | $86,111 | $108,500 |
| California statewide | 104,000 | $67,168 | $84,901 | $119,400 |
HR Manager
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 240 | $123,701 | $164,260 | $206,517 |
| Napa | 120 | $119,654 | $170,300 | $201,200 |
| Solano | 120 | $125,979 | $166,304 | $195,882 |
| Marin | 170 | $152,705 | $196,967 | $271,998 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 3,020 | $169,211 | $219,798 | $304,808 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 1,770 | $149,867 | $196,112 | $239,088 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 2,800 | $171,357 | $224,159 | $312,618 |
| Santa Cruz | 130 | $128,693 | $167,331 | $220,112 |
| California statewide | 27,450 | $131,378 | $172,933 | $228,765 |
Accountant
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 1,740 | $77,672 | $96,279 | $126,640 |
| Napa | 520 | $80,366 | $101,312 | $125,318 |
| Solano | 690 | $77,255 | $97,407 | $120,458 |
| Marin | 970 | $84,179 | $105,726 | $134,203 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 14,910 | $95,266 | $118,743 | $155,915 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 9,290 | $84,634 | $105,558 | $134,915 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 13,180 | $98,048 | $123,742 | $159,329 |
| Santa Cruz | 740 | $73,432 | $86,345 | $110,768 |
| California statewide | 175,360 | $77,082 | $98,678 | $127,961 |
Project Manager
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 1,000 | $82,969 | $109,141 | $139,939 |
| Napa | 310 | $88,856 | $110,890 | $146,843 |
| Solano | 720 | $79,532 | $108,307 | $141,301 |
| Marin | 730 | $97,416 | $132,988 | $157,590 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 10,710 | $107,564 | $142,829 | $175,711 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 9,330 | $101,280 | $135,105 | $164,422 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 10,300 | $103,874 | $137,387 | $175,719 |
| Santa Cruz | 440 | $79,817 | $108,571 | $136,431 |
| California statewide | 114,380 | $87,056 | $122,938 | $158,465 |
Financial Analyst
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 150 | $88,460 | $111,622 | $130,381 |
| Napa | 50 | $91,886 | $102,267 | $132,852 |
| Solano | 80 | $93,696 | $108,510 | $130,178 |
| Marin | 350 | $89,010 | $110,657 | $151,525 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 6,670 | $104,151 | $135,811 | $173,674 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 2,900 | $90,326 | $123,256 | $153,640 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 3,880 | $123,965 | $147,341 | $182,156 |
| Santa Cruz | 150 | $81,820 | $101,495 | $131,561 |
| California statewide | 45,380 | $87,890 | $110,940 | $149,303 |
Data Scientist
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 130 | $87,749 | $123,287 | $156,450 |
| Napa | 30 | $97,485 | $104,681 | $158,208 |
| Solano | 70 | $91,419 | $107,456 | $149,450 |
| Marin | 220 | $127,619 | $158,119 | $207,857 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 7,350 | $139,458 | $177,411 | $222,541 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 2,900 | $127,128 | $165,847 | $202,405 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 6,060 | $153,757 | $190,261 | $225,603 |
| Santa Cruz | 80 | $94,586 | $134,646 | $166,381 |
| California statewide | 39,310 | $106,253 | $145,554 | $192,050 |
Marketing Manager
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 300 | $128,287 | $164,433 | $217,956 |
| Napa | 120 | $131,866 | $166,619 | $224,433 |
| Solano | 120 | $109,690 | $164,270 | $213,259 |
| Marin | 360 | $156,589 | $207,884 | $291,415 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 7,830 | $182,300 | $229,380 | $319,503 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 2,980 | $166,589 | $210,957 | $286,506 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 7,300 | $187,483 | $235,252 | $324,260 |
| Santa Cruz | 150 | $124,474 | $171,815 | $224,525 |
| California statewide | 54,660 | $142,298 | $196,868 | $275,912 |
Paralegal
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 290 | $62,296 | $80,348 | $96,415 |
| Napa | 80 | $63,448 | $79,176 | $97,382 |
| Solano | 160 | $63,787 | $81,499 | $92,591 |
| Marin | 340 | $74,353 | $79,957 | $99,215 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 4,330 | $76,122 | $94,718 | $119,716 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 2,960 | $75,456 | $83,103 | $99,471 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 2,030 | $79,783 | $102,028 | $122,455 |
| Santa Cruz | 150 | $62,430 | $66,501 | $84,172 |
| California statewide | 47,130 | $61,854 | $79,556 | $101,185 |
Elementary Teacher
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 2,180 | $80,338 | $101,833 | $106,983 |
| Napa | 570 | $77,110 | $103,221 | $123,061 |
| Solano | 1,680 | $78,169 | $103,611 | $111,085 |
| Marin | 1,350 | $79,364 | $102,909 | $124,103 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 5,260 | $79,426 | $103,315 | $124,072 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 11,260 | $80,738 | $105,324 | $127,978 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 7,810 | $85,354 | $105,739 | $125,251 |
| Santa Cruz | 1,000 | $76,349 | $102,039 | $106,736 |
| California statewide | 155,160 | $79,299 | $102,439 | $123,328 |
Administrative Assistant
| Region | Employed | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 2,150 | $48,972 | $59,086 | $71,329 |
| Napa | 630 | $50,180 | $60,202 | $66,804 |
| Solano | 1,110 | $48,388 | $57,601 | $67,070 |
| Marin | 1,190 | $52,587 | $63,338 | $79,146 |
| San Francisco and San Mateo | 8,760 | $53,115 | $63,338 | $79,108 |
| Oakland and the East Bay | 10,320 | $52,762 | $63,729 | $79,795 |
| San Jose and Silicon Valley | 7,970 | $54,479 | $64,429 | $79,211 |
| Santa Cruz | 960 | $47,518 | $58,871 | $70,029 |
| California statewide | 158,630 | $47,488 | $56,711 | $66,947 |
The interactive tool above uses exactly these figures.