PanuShot // Shutterstock
1 / 34#34. Advertising and promotions managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: Not available
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying management jobs for people in San Jose
Managers are the glue holding companies and organizations together. At the executive level, managers are responsible for overall strategy and improving the bottom line. At lower levels, managers make decisions, build relationships, help customers, and lead teams to complete projects.
Effective managers need a wide array of skills. They must be versatile enough to adapt to new initiatives, market changes, and technology. Good communication is also essential to work with customers and team members, and leadership and project management skills drive better results for the organization.
People drawn to this role often enjoy setting goals and working with others to achieve them. Many get satisfaction from mentoring others and helping them grow to the best of their abilities.
As companies grow, more layers of management are often added to streamline productivity and oversee different teams. Depending on a manager's capabilities, teams can range from a few people to 15 or more. However, some companies believe that too much bureaucracy can slow output, leading to managerial cuts. In 2023, managers and executives accounted for half of all layoffs, according to Live Data Technologies. Amazon and United Parcel Service contributed to the trend, eliminating thousands of management jobs in 2024.
Organizational flattening may make headlines, but having a good manager can go a long way toward keeping workers motivated and projects on track. A 2021 Gallup report found that managerial quality is responsible for 70% of a team's engagement level, meaning that the right leader can make a profound impact on an organization.
As vital as managers are, compensation for these jobs varies by industry. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying management jobs in San Jose. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in San Jose by diners
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
2 / 34#33. Human resources managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: Not available
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,200 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
possohh // Shutterstock
3 / 34#32. Emergency management directors (tie)
- Median annual wage: Not available
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
4 / 34#31. Administrative services managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: Not available
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,670 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
5 / 34#30. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $47,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in San Jose?
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
6 / 34#29. Personal service managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.46
- Total employment: 160 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 34#28. Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
- Median annual wage: $77,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.08
- Total employment: 680 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
8 / 34#27. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $79,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.05
- Total employment: 1,720 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 34#26. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $82,570
- Median hourly wage: $39.70
- Total employment: 240 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
10 / 34#25. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $83,600
- Median hourly wage: $40.19
- Total employment: 2,580 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Is it cheaper to buy or rent in San Jose in 2026?
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
11 / 34#24. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
- Median annual wage: $91,140
- Median hourly wage: $43.82
- Total employment: 420 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
12 / 34#23. Education administrators, all other
- Median annual wage: $94,920
- Median hourly wage: $45.63
- Total employment: 1,060 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
13 / 34#22. Social and community service managers
- Median annual wage: $97,750
- Median hourly wage: $47.00
- Total employment: 1,280 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 34#21. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,000
- Median hourly wage: $62.02
- Total employment: 1,940 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
15 / 34#20. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $137,890
- Median hourly wage: $66.29
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in San Jose by diners
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
16 / 34#19. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $151,980
- Median hourly wage: $73.07
- Total employment: 2,100 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
17 / 34#18. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $152,940
- Median hourly wage: $73.53
- Total employment: 490 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
18 / 34#17. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $162,480
- Median hourly wage: $78.11
- Total employment: 17,070 people (15.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
19 / 34#16. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $164,180
- Median hourly wage: $78.93
- Total employment: 1,570 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
20 / 34#15. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $164,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,810 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in San Jose
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 34#14. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $167,460
- Median hourly wage: $80.51
- Total employment: 4,510 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
22 / 34#13. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $169,930
- Median hourly wage: $81.70
- Total employment: 2,250 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
23 / 34#12. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $194,510
- Median hourly wage: $93.52
- Total employment: 650 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
24 / 34#11. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $200,450
- Median hourly wage: $96.37
- Total employment: 9,170 people (8.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 34#10. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $215,120
- Median hourly wage: $103.42
- Total employment: 13,530 people (11.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near San Jose
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
26 / 34#9. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $218,460
- Median hourly wage: $105.03
- Total employment: 910 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
27 / 34#8. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $218,920
- Median hourly wage: $105.25
- Total employment: 9,350 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
28 / 34#7. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $220,680
- Median hourly wage: $106.10
- Total employment: 350 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
29 / 34#6. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $221,480
- Median hourly wage: $106.48
- Total employment: 1,100 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
30 / 34#5. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $226,940
- Median hourly wage: $109.11
- Total employment: 5,270 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to San Jose
fizkes // Shutterstock
31 / 34#4. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $228,580
- Median hourly wage: $109.90
- Total employment: 7,590 people (6.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 34#3. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $231,740
- Median hourly wage: $111.41
- Total employment: 940 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
33 / 34#2. Computer and information systems managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 20,190 people (17.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
34 / 34#1. Chief executives (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,430 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
