Salary comparison
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants: San Jose vs Santa Rosa
San Jose, CA pays about 15.2% more for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants on paper — $106,220 vs $92,240. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Jose comes out ahead by $13,980 a year in real buying power.
San Jose, CA
$106,220
$91,590
$133,640
$51.07
100
$106,220/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Rosa, CA
$92,240
$76,510
$114,010
$44.34
100
$92,240/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $13,980 a year (15.2%) in favor of San Jose. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
San Jose runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Rosa sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Jose is the better deal by $13,980 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Rosa to San Jose for this role, the raise needs to beat 15.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn more, San Jose or Santa Rosa?
San Jose pays $106,220 on median — about 15.2% more than Santa Rosa ($92,240). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
San Jose. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, San Jose gives you roughly$106,220 of real buying power versus $92,240 in the other city.