San Diego Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
San Diego, CA: $28.21/hr median hourly wage, $58,690 median annual salary, cost of living index 160, and $16.50/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
San Diego Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in San Diego, CA is $28.21/hr,and the median annual wage is $58,690. Entry-level pay estimates around $17.49/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $40.06/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.50/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area (1,538,060 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so San Diego shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$58,690
$28.21/hr
Cost of Living
160
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.50
per hour
Unemployment
3.8%
rate
San Diego, CA Overview
Population
1,386,932
Median Salary
$58,690
Average Salary
$79,060
Avg Commute
25 min
Median Home Price
$780,000
Median Rent
$2,500/mo
Job Growth
+2.2%
Sales Tax
7.75%
San Diego is located in California with a population of 1,386,932. The median annual wage across all occupations is $58,690 ($28.21/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro), which is $7,710 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 25 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.2%.
San Diego Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in San Diego, CA built around the $58,690 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $36,388 | $17.49/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $58,690 | $28.21/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $83,340 | $40.06/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $104,468 | $50.21/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
San Diego Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in San Diego, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$47,623
$3,968.62/month · $1,831.67/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.9%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,831.67 take-home per paycheck after estimated California and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$58,690
Federal Tax
-$4,863
State Tax
-$1,714
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,490
Net Pay
$47,623
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,890.83 | $58,690.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$405.23 | -$4,862.80 |
| California State Tax (2.92% eff.) | -$142.83 | -$1,713.93 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$303.23 | -$3,638.78 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$70.92 | -$851.01 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,968.62 | $47,623.49 |
Salary Comparison: San Diego vs Other Cities
See how San Diego's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | $58,690 | 160 | $36,681 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Chula Vista, CA | $58,690 | 140 | $41,921 |
| Oceanside, CA | $58,690 | 145 | $40,476 |
| Escondido, CA | $58,690 | 135 | $43,474 |
| Carlsbad, CA | $58,690 | 165.3 | $35,505 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in San Diego
San Diego's cost of living index is 160 (national average = 100). Living in San Diego is 60% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$780,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,500
Annual Rent Cost
$30,000
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $47,623 annual take-home pay in San Diego has the purchasing power of approximately $29,765 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $93,904 in San Diego to match a $58,690 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in San Diego
San Diego's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $58,690.
Salary Tips for San Diego Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. San Diego has a cost of living 60% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 13.3% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. San Diego's top industries include Military, Biotech, Tourism. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $58,690 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in San Diego, CA
Browse occupation-specific salaries for San Diego. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area (79 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for San Diego's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in California
San Dimas
San Francisco
San Gabriel
San Jacinto
San Jose
San Leandro
San Luis Obispo
San Marcos
San Mateo
San Pablo
San Rafael
San Ramon
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate San Diego salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with San Diego indexed at 160.
- Median salary: $58,690 annual, $28.21 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA (1,538,060 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $79,060 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for San Diego was $78,500.
- Tax burden reflects California 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 13.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7.75%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for San Diego: 3.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Military, Biotech, Tourism, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $780,000, median rent $2,500/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for San Diego, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, San Diego unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, San Diego QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, California, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. San Diego's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent California labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in San Diego, CA?
The median hourly wage in San Diego, CA is $28.21 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $58,690. Entry-level workers are estimated around $17.49/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $40.06/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in San Diego, CA?
The median salary in San Diego, CA is $58,690 per year, or $28.21 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $79,060. This is $7,710 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in San Diego, CA?
San Diego's cost of living index is 160 (national average = 100), meaning it is 60% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $780,000 and the median monthly rent is $2,500.
What are the best industries in San Diego?
The top industries in San Diego, CA include Military, Biotech, Tourism. The city has a job growth rate of 2.2% and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $58,690.
How does San Diego's salary compare to other cities?
San Diego's median salary of $58,690 is 15.1% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 160), the real purchasing power is approximately $36,681.
What is the minimum wage in San Diego, CA?
The minimum wage in San Diego, CA is $16.50 per hour. This equals approximately $34,320 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $9.25 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.