CaliforniaCOL index: 148

Salaries in San Diego, CA

San Diego, California offers career opportunities with 9.3% state income tax. Browse salary data for every major occupation below — all figures are San Diego-specific, updated quarterly from BLS and H-1B disclosures.

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Population

1,423,851

COL index

148 / 100

Avg 1BR rent

$2,400/mo

State income tax

9.3%

Technology salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Software Engineer	$95K	$130K	$165K	$210K	+4.2%
Data Scientist	$100K	$138K	$175K	$220K	+5.1%
Product Manager	$110K	$148K	$190K	$240K	+3.8%
DevOps Engineer	$105K	$140K	$178K	$215K	+6.2%
Cybersecurity Analyst	$85K	$115K	$148K	$185K	+7.3%
UX Designer	$72K	$99K	$130K	$165K	+3.1%
Machine Learning Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$275K	+8.4%
Cloud Architect	$130K	$170K	$215K	$265K	+6.8%
Frontend Developer	$82K	$112K	$145K	$185K	+4.5%
Backend Developer	$90K	$125K	$160K	$200K	+4.3%
Full Stack Developer	$88K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+4.6%
Mobile Developer	$90K	$125K	$162K	$205K	+5.2%
Data Engineer	$98K	$132K	$168K	$210K	+6.5%
Data Analyst	$60K	$82K	$108K	$140K	+4%
Database Administrator	$78K	$105K	$135K	$170K	+2.8%
Systems Administrator	$62K	$86K	$112K	$142K	+2.2%
Network Engineer	$75K	$100K	$130K	$165K	+3%
IT Manager	$100K	$135K	$172K	$215K	+3.5%
Scrum Master	$88K	$115K	$145K	$180K	+3.2%
Solutions Architect	$120K	$158K	$200K	$250K	+5.8%
AI Engineer	$130K	$175K	$225K	$290K	+12%
Blockchain Developer	$110K	$150K	$195K	$250K	+7.5%
QA Engineer	$70K	$95K	$125K	$158K	+3%
Site Reliability Engineer	$115K	$152K	$192K	$238K	+7%
Embedded Systems Engineer	$85K	$112K	$142K	$178K	+3.8%
Technical Writer	$58K	$79K	$102K	$130K	+2.5%
IT Support Specialist	$42K	$58K	$76K	$98K	+2%
Information Security Manager	$115K	$152K	$195K	$245K	+7.8%
Penetration Tester	$88K	$118K	$152K	$195K	+8.2%
Computer Vision Engineer	$120K	$162K	$208K	$265K	+9.5%
NLP Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$272K	+10.2%
Game Developer	$72K	$98K	$132K	$172K	+4.8%
Salesforce Developer	$90K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+5.5%
ERP Consultant	$85K	$115K	$150K	$190K	+3.8%

Healthcare salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Registered Nurse	$79K	$100K	$127K	$159K	+3.5%
Physician Assistant	$132K	$159K	$189K	$226K	+4.8%
Physical Therapist	$92K	$116K	$140K	$171K	+3.2%
Healthcare Administrator	$88K	$127K	$171K	$226K	+4.1%
Nurse Practitioner	$122K	$148K	$177K	$214K	+5.2%
Pharmacist	$144K	$161K	$181K	$201K	+1.2%
Medical Doctor	$238K	$303K	$390K	$512K	+2.8%
Dentist	$181K	$220K	$275K	$354K	+2.5%
Occupational Therapist	$88K	$110K	$134K	$161K	+3.8%
Radiologist	$354K	$464K	$573K	$683K	+2.2%
Surgeon	$342K	$464K	$610K	$793K	+2.5%
Anesthesiologist	$366K	$476K	$586K	$708K	+2.1%
Medical Lab Technician	$51K	$68K	$88K	$110K	+3.2%
Respiratory Therapist	$71K	$88K	$110K	$137K	+3.8%
Speech-Language Pathologist	$83K	$104K	$128K	$156K	+4.2%
Clinical Psychologist	$88K	$116K	$153K	$198K	+3.5%
Psychiatrist	$238K	$303K	$378K	$488K	+3.8%
Medical Coder	$51K	$67K	$85K	$107K	+2.8%
ICU Nurse	$95K	$120K	$149K	$183K	+4%
Surgical Technologist	$55K	$71K	$88K	$110K	+3.5%
Paramedic	$46K	$61K	$79K	$100K	+3.2%
Registered Dietitian	$63K	$83K	$105K	$132K	+3.5%
Optometrist	$137K	$168K	$205K	$256K	+2.8%
Genetic Counselor	$88K	$110K	$134K	$165K	+5.8%

Finance salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Financial Analyst	$85K	$119K	$163K	$225K	+3.6%
Accountant	$69K	$98K	$131K	$175K	+2.2%
Investment Banker	$150K	$225K	$350K	$563K	+3.9%
Actuary	$119K	$156K	$203K	$256K	+5.5%
Financial Advisor	$73K	$119K	$185K	$288K	+3.8%
Portfolio Manager	$144K	$203K	$281K	$400K	+4.2%
Risk Analyst	$85K	$115K	$153K	$198K	+4.5%
Tax Manager	$119K	$160K	$206K	$263K	+3%
Financial Controller	$131K	$175K	$228K	$294K	+3.2%
Chief Financial Officer	$219K	$313K	$450K	$650K	+3.5%
Credit Analyst	$65K	$88K	$115K	$150K	+2.8%
Mortgage Loan Officer	$60K	$90K	$135K	$203K	+2.5%
Compliance Officer	$90K	$123K	$163K	$215K	+4.8%
Hedge Fund Analyst	$144K	$206K	$300K	$475K	+3.5%
Private Equity Analyst	$138K	$198K	$281K	$438K	+4%
Quantitative Analyst	$156K	$215K	$288K	$400K	+6.2%
Bookkeeper	$48K	$60K	$75K	$95K	+1%
Budget Analyst	$78K	$103K	$130K	$163K	+2.5%
Insurance Underwriter	$73K	$98K	$128K	$165K	+2%
Venture Capital Analyst	$119K	$169K	$231K	$325K	+5.5%

Engineering salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Mechanical Engineer	$88K	$117K	$151K	$189K	+2.8%
Petroleum Engineer	$134K	$177K	$229K	$293K	+1.5%
Civil Engineer	$83K	$110K	$144K	$183K	+3.4%
Electrical Engineer	$95K	$128K	$166K	$207K	+3.1%
Chemical Engineer	$98K	$132K	$171K	$217K	+2.5%
Aerospace Engineer	$110K	$149K	$193K	$242K	+3.8%
Industrial Engineer	$88K	$117K	$151K	$193K	+3.5%
Environmental Engineer	$83K	$112K	$146K	$185K	+4.2%
Biomedical Engineer	$88K	$120K	$156K	$198K	+5.2%
Structural Engineer	$85K	$112K	$146K	$185K	+3.2%
Nuclear Engineer	$116K	$153K	$193K	$242K	+2.2%
Materials Engineer	$88K	$120K	$156K	$198K	+3%
Geotechnical Engineer	$83K	$110K	$144K	$183K	+3.5%
Controls Engineer	$95K	$127K	$163K	$205K	+4%
Manufacturing Engineer	$85K	$116K	$149K	$189K	+3.2%
Process Engineer	$88K	$120K	$156K	$198K	+3.5%
Quality Engineer	$79K	$107K	$140K	$181K	+3%

Business salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Marketing Manager	$98K	$138K	$190K	$250K	+3.3%
Human Resources Manager	$94K	$130K	$175K	$225K	+2.9%
Project Manager	$90K	$123K	$165K	$213K	+3.7%
Operations Manager	$85K	$123K	$169K	$225K	+2.5%
Business Analyst	$78K	$106K	$140K	$181K	+3.8%
Management Consultant	$100K	$144K	$203K	$281K	+4.2%
Supply Chain Manager	$98K	$135K	$178K	$228K	+4.5%
Sales Manager	$90K	$131K	$190K	$269K	+3.5%
Account Executive	$69K	$98K	$140K	$203K	+3.8%
Chief Executive Officer	$194K	$294K	$475K	$775K	+3.2%
Chief Operating Officer	$181K	$263K	$400K	$600K	+3%
Chief Marketing Officer	$181K	$263K	$385K	$575K	+3.5%
General Manager	$94K	$135K	$190K	$263K	+2.8%
Logistics Coordinator	$53K	$70K	$90K	$115K	+3.5%
Purchasing Manager	$98K	$135K	$175K	$223K	+2.5%
Digital Marketing Manager	$85K	$119K	$160K	$210K	+5.5%
SEO Specialist	$60K	$81K	$110K	$148K	+5.8%
Content Strategist	$69K	$94K	$125K	$163K	+5.2%
Brand Manager	$90K	$123K	$165K	$215K	+3.5%
Recruiter	$60K	$81K	$110K	$150K	+3.2%
Executive Assistant	$65K	$85K	$110K	$140K	+1.8%
Public Relations Manager	$85K	$119K	$163K	$215K	+3%
Event Planner	$53K	$70K	$94K	$125K	+3.8%

Education salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
K-12 Teacher	$50K	$69K	$92K	$118K	+1.8%
University Professor	$73K	$101K	$146K	$213K	+2.1%
School Principal	$92K	$114K	$140K	$170K	+2.2%
Instructional Designer	$65K	$85K	$110K	$140K	+4.5%
School Counselor	$54K	$69K	$90K	$112K	+3%
Special Education Teacher	$54K	$73K	$94K	$121K	+3.5%
Curriculum Developer	$62K	$81K	$103K	$132K	+3.8%
Education Administrator	$81K	$106K	$137K	$174K	+2.5%
Librarian	$54K	$69K	$90K	$112K	+1.5%
Academic Advisor	$45K	$58K	$76K	$96K	+3%

Legal salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Attorney	$100K	$164K	$266K	$448K	+3.5%
Paralegal	$54K	$72K	$95K	$122K	+3.8%
Corporate Lawyer	$147K	$224K	$358K	$576K	+3.8%
Patent Attorney	$173K	$237K	$317K	$435K	+4.2%
Compliance Lawyer	$128K	$186K	$253K	$339K	+5%
Judge	$122K	$173K	$233K	$307K	+1.5%
Legal Operations Manager	$122K	$166K	$218K	$282K	+6.5%

Construction salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Construction Manager	$98K	$131K	$173K	$225K	+4.5%
Electrician	$65K	$85K	$110K	$144K	+6.2%
Plumber	$65K	$85K	$113K	$148K	+5.5%
HVAC Technician	$60K	$78K	$100K	$128K	+5.8%
Welder	$48K	$63K	$80K	$103K	+3.5%
Carpenter	$53K	$70K	$93K	$119K	+4%
Land Surveyor	$73K	$98K	$128K	$163K	+3.8%
Construction Estimator	$78K	$105K	$138K	$178K	+4.2%

Real Estate salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Real Estate Agent	$38K	$62K	$105K	$180K	+3.5%
Real Estate Broker	$55K	$95K	$162K	$275K	+3.5%
Property Manager	$48K	$65K	$88K	$118K	+3.2%
Real Estate Appraiser	$52K	$72K	$98K	$132K	+2.8%
Commercial Real Estate Analyst	$62K	$88K	$120K	$162K	+4%

Government salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Urban Planner	$69K	$92K	$117K	$150K	+3.8%
Social Worker	$46K	$63K	$83K	$106K	+3.5%
Firefighter	$48K	$67K	$90K	$117K	+2.8%
Police Officer	$55K	$75K	$101K	$132K	+2.5%
Military Officer	$63K	$94K	$132K	$178K	+2%
Public Health Official	$78K	$106K	$138K	$178K	+4.5%
Policy Analyst	$67K	$90K	$117K	$152K	+3.5%
Government Budget Officer	$71K	$94K	$121K	$155K	+2.5%

Science salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Biologist	$70K	$100K	$134K	$179K	+3.5%
Chemist	$74K	$102K	$138K	$182K	+3.2%
Physicist	$100K	$143K	$195K	$256K	+4%
Geologist	$79K	$113K	$151K	$198K	+3.8%
Epidemiologist	$87K	$115K	$151K	$195K	+4.5%
Biochemist	$79K	$113K	$156K	$207K	+4.2%
Environmental Scientist	$70K	$97K	$128K	$169K	+4.8%
Research Scientist	$92K	$125K	$169K	$224K	+4.5%
Pharmaceutical Data Scientist	$134K	$182K	$233K	$292K	+7.5%
Clinical Research Coordinator	$61K	$79K	$102K	$131K	+5.5%
Laboratory Manager	$83K	$113K	$147K	$189K	+3.8%

Creative salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Graphic Designer	$50K	$70K	$94K	$122K	+3%
Art Director	$86K	$120K	$162K	$214K	+2.8%
Video Producer	$58K	$82K	$114K	$162K	+4.2%
Copywriter	$54K	$74K	$102K	$138K	+3.5%
Photographer	$38K	$55K	$82K	$120K	+3%
Animator	$62K	$86K	$118K	$162K	+4.5%
Journalist	$46K	$62K	$86K	$122K	+1.5%
Social Media Manager	$54K	$72K	$98K	$132K	+6.5%
Interior Designer	$50K	$70K	$96K	$130K	+3.2%
Fashion Designer	$58K	$82K	$118K	$174K	+2.5%
Music Producer	$46K	$74K	$126K	$222K	+3.5%
UX Researcher	$98K	$134K	$174K	$222K	+5.5%

Hospitality salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Hotel Manager	$61K	$85K	$116K	$159K	+3.2%
Executive Chef	$61K	$80K	$109K	$151K	+3.8%
Restaurant Manager	$50K	$66K	$87K	$116K	+3.5%
Travel Agent	$41K	$54K	$73K	$100K	+3%
Sommelier	$50K	$68K	$97K	$136K	+3.2%

Retail salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Retail Store Manager	$48K	$67K	$90K	$121K	+2%
Sales Representative	$48K	$71K	$106K	$159K	+3.5%
Retail Buyer	$60K	$83K	$113K	$150K	+2.5%
E-Commerce Manager	$71K	$98K	$132K	$175K	+7.5%
Business Development Manager	$83K	$117K	$161K	$221K	+4.5%

Transportation salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Airline Pilot	$124K	$189K	$277K	$389K	+5.2%
Logistics Manager	$85K	$116K	$153K	$198K	+4.5%
Truck Driver (CDL)	$50K	$61K	$80K	$104K	+4.8%
Transportation Planner	$73K	$97K	$127K	$165K	+4.2%
Fleet Manager	$68K	$92K	$120K	$156K	+4%

Energy salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Energy Engineer	$90K	$121K	$159K	$201K	+6.5%
Solar Installer	$48K	$60K	$78K	$101K	+22%
Wind Turbine Technician	$55K	$69K	$87K	$113K	+45%
Oil & Gas Operations Manager	$126K	$170K	$221K	$285K	+2%
Energy Analyst	$71K	$98K	$129K	$167K	+6%

Nonprofit salaries in San Diego

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Nonprofit Executive Director	$69K	$95K	$132K	$185K	+3.2%
Grant Writer	$54K	$69K	$90K	$114K	+3.5%
Fundraising Manager	$58K	$78K	$106K	$146K	+3.8%
Case Manager	$43K	$56K	$72K	$92K	+3.5%
Community Outreach Coordinator	$43K	$56K	$73K	$94K	+3.8%

Working in San Diego, California: Salary Guide (2026)

San Diego is home to the San Diego–CA metropolitan area with a population of 1,423,851. The city has a cost of living index of 148 (US average = 100), meaning living costs are above the national average.

California has a 9.3% state income tax rate. When comparing offers with cities in no-income-tax states like Texas, Washington, or Florida, factor in this difference.

Top-paying industries in San Diego

San Diego's economy spans multiple high-wage sectors. The city's diverse employer base creates strong demand across technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services.

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