Cost of hiring a sales development representative in San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale is the most expensive place in California to hire a sales development representative. The median is $116,510 a year[1], 44.1% above the California statewide median of $80,850 and 66.5% above the US median of $69,990. Only 1 of 520 US areas pay more for this job. BLS counts about 13,390 people in this job here, 9% of the California total.
BLS occupation 41-3091, area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Jose-Sunnyvale against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | $49,500 | $116,510 | $217,680 | |
| California | $43,240 | $80,850 | $168,720 | |
| United States | $37,980 | $69,990 | $148,840 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $217,680 or more, 4.4 times the bottom tenth, against 3.9 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of sales development representatives in San Jose-Sunnyvale earns $73,830–$169,410. The mean ($127,280) is 9% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a sales development representative here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,500 | $4,125 | $23.80 | $70,714 |
| 25th percentile | $73,830 | $6,152 | $35.50 | $105,471 |
| Median | $116,510 | $9,709 | $56.01 | $166,443 |
| 75th percentile | $169,410 | $14,118 | $81.45 | $242,014 |
| 90th percentile | $217,680 | $18,140 | $104.65 | $310,971 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $42,680 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $52,900, or about $75,571 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in San Jose-Sunnyvale
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $49,933 to the $116,510 median and brings it to $166,443 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for sales development representatives we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in San Jose-Sunnyvale
Of the 17 roles we track in San Jose-Sunnyvale, this one ranks #4 by median pay. Marketing Specialist is the highest at $141,960 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $47,130.
| Role | Median | vs sales development representative | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +21.8% | 12,710 | |
| Project Coordinator | +16.0% | 10,300 | |
| Accountant | +4.5% | 13,180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | this role | 13,390 | |
| Recruiter | -3.8% | 7,970 | |
| Executive Assistant | -8.8% | 5,300 | |
| Paralegal | -14.8% | 2,030 | |
| Office Manager | -18.5% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -33.1% | 1,000 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -40.5% | 6,340 | |
| HR Assistant | -42.0% | 560 | |
| Bookkeeper | -43.2% | 7,590 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -46.0% | 7,970 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -48.1% | 8,860 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -50.1% | 620 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -53.2% | 720 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -59.5% | 3,990 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $46,050 in Hanford-Corcoran to $116,510 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $70,460 a year.
| Area | Median | vs San Jose-Sunnyvale | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | this area | 13,390 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | -16.8% | 29,980 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | -31.8% | 50,470 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | -36.0% | 11,730 | |
| Napa, CA | -36.9% | 370 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | -37.5% | 1,470 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | -38.3% | 6,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a sales development representative in San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA?
About $166,443 a year at the median, or $13,870 a month: $116,510 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for sales development representatives in San Jose-Sunnyvale?
The median was $116,510 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,500, the 90th $217,680, and the middle half earned $73,830 to $169,410.
Is San Jose-Sunnyvale the most expensive area in California for sales development representatives?
Yes. Its median of $116,510 is the highest of 28 areas in California. San Francisco-Oakland comes next at $96,960.
How many sales development representatives work in San Jose-Sunnyvale?
BLS counts about 13,390 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the California total of 156,110.
Does a sales development representative cost more than a recruiter in San Jose-Sunnyvale?
Yes: $4,370 a year more at the median. The medians are $116,510 and $112,140.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 41-3091: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes413091.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.