CA · Palo Alto · Updated October 15, 2026

Regulatory Affairs Specialist jobs in Palo Alto, CA

The median regulatory affairs specialist pay in the Palo Alto area is $56.97 per hour ($118,490 a year), with the typical range running from $40.32 to $76.86. That ranks 1st of 383 U.S. metro areas for regulatory affairs specialist pay, and 3rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Palo Alto and its metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Palo Alto.

Open Regulatory Affairs Specialist roles near Palo Alto

Roles in other cities of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area.

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Regulatory Affairs Specialist pay in Palo Alto, CA

The metro median is 28% above the California statewide median of $44.40 per hour. Nationally the median is $37.70 per hour. BLS counts about 2,690 compliance officers employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.92).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.29$65,08017% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$40.32$83,8707% above U.S. median
Median$56.97$118,49051% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$76.86$159,870104% above U.S. median
Top 10%$98.93$205,770162% above U.S. median

How Palo Alto ranks

  • 1st of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 3rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 24 California metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for regulatory affairs specialist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Compliance Officers.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Compliance Officers (SOC 13-1041), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Palo Alto

  • Overall prices in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara run 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 112% above the U.S. average (index 211.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $56.97 median hour buys what $51.59 buys at the national price level, 37% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Palo Alto paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,051
  • Per year: $102,546
  • Per month: $8,546

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Regulatory Affairs Specialist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Mountain View, CA4 mi$56.97/hr87,316
Sunnyvale, CA6 mi$56.97/hr156,792
Redwood City, CA9 mi$50.00/hr82,982
Fremont, CA13 mi$50.00/hr228,192
San Mateo, CA15 mi$50.00/hr103,006
Union City, CA16 mi$50.00/hr66,196

Regulatory Affairs Specialist jobs in California · Regulatory Affairs Specialist jobs nationwide

What employers ask for, and tax basics in California

Regulatory affairs specialists prepare and manage submissions and keep products compliant with agency rules.

  • Bachelor’s degree in a science or related field
  • Knowledge of FDA and international requirements; RAC is a plus
  • Technical writing and documentation skills

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Palo Alto

Palo Alto city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do regulatory affairs specialists make in Palo Alto, CA?

Regulatory Affairs Specialists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area have a median pay of $56.97 per hour, about $118,490 a year. The middle half earn between $40.32 and $76.86 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Palo Alto a good place for regulatory affairs specialists once cost of living is counted?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks 3rd of 339 metro areas for regulatory affairs specialist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 1st of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring regulatory affairs specialists in Palo Alto?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Palo Alto.

Do I need a California license to work in Palo Alto as a regulatory affairs specialist?

Bachelor’s degree in a science or related field. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Does Valorem Health place regulatory affairs specialists in Palo Alto?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Palo Alto and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Palo Alto.

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What do employers near Palo Alto pay regulatory affairs specialists? Get the report.

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Pay report · Regulatory near Palo Alto, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Regulatory pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your California list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • MerckNorth Wales, PA · 1 posting$72.40/ hr$56–$89
  • Johnson & JohnsonRaritan, NJ · 1 posting$57.78/ hr$44–$71
  • Capital Health SystemPennington, NJ · 1 posting$52.58/ hr$45–$60
  • Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 1 posting$49.72/ hr$40–$60

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your California list

2What they are offering now

Low$28Median$39.22High$61

13 Regulatory postings with published pay in the US, 12 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 Regulatory roles

  1. Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Ops - Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Circulatory RestorationPermanent
    $58k–$93k/ year
    Johnson & Johnson · Santa Clara, CA · posted today

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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