Salary comparison
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: Carson City vs San Jose
San Jose, CA pays about 36.4% more for medical secretaries and administrative assistants on paper — $69,350 vs $50,860. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Jose comes out ahead by $18,490 a year in real buying power.
Carson City, NV
$50,860
$45,190
$58,810
$24.45
100
$50,860/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
San Jose, CA
$69,350
$56,440
$80,300
$33.34
100
$69,350/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $18,490 a year (36.4%) in favor of San Jose. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Carson City runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Jose sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Jose is the better deal by $18,490 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Carson City to San Jose for this role, the raise needs to beat 36.4% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn more, Carson City or San Jose?
San Jose pays $69,350 on median — about 36.4% more than Carson City ($50,860). 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$69,350 of real buying power versus $50,860 in the other city.