Electrical Engineers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $204,610 or more. The middle half of electrical engineers in San Diego earn between $93,660 and $162,340.
- $80K10th
- $94K25th
- $127KMedian
- $162K75th
- $205K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $131,220 | $10,935 | $63.09 |
| Median | $127,270 | $10,606 | $61.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,660 | $7,805 | $45.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $162,340 | $13,528 | $78.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Electrical Engineers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Electrical engineers in San Diego earn 13% less than the California average ($151,180) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($125,100). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $120,630.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $131,220 | $127,270 | $80,080 | $204,610 | 2,400 |
| California | $151,180 | $144,040 | $81,840 | $217,760 | 24,230 |
| United States | $125,100 | $120,630 | $76,550 | $184,300 | 198,750 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Electrical Engineers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $131,220, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $92,843 a year, or $7,737 a month and $3,571 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for electrical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $131,220 buys what about $117,279 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Electrical Engineers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 13th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($189,370).
- San Jose$189,370
- San Francisco$162,170
- Santa Rosa$148,660
- Santa Cruz$147,650
- Los Angeles$145,760
- Vallejo$144,580
- Santa Maria$141,670
- Sacramento$141,080
- Fresno$137,150
- San Diego$131,220
Highest-paying cities for electrical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($189,370).
- San Jose, CA$189,370
- San Francisco, CA$162,170
- Albuquerque, NM$158,230
- Austin, TX$157,930
- Manchester, NH$149,130
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Electrical Engineers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do electrical engineers make an hour in San Diego?
$63.09 an hour on average, and $61.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level electrical engineers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the electrical engineers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $92,843 a year ($7,737 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $131,220. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do electrical engineers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($125,100).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2071; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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