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Salaries in San Diego by Occupation
Average pay by occupation in the San Diego metro area: 36 jobs ranked by annual salary from official U.S. BLS OEWS wage data. Figures cover the whole San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area, not just city centers.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS metro data (San Diego-Carlsbad, CA) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
San Diego pay by occupation
| Occupation | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|
| Financial Managers | $91.14 | $189,570 |
| Marketing Managers | $87.66 | $182,330 |
| Software Developers | $73.21 | $152,270 |
| Registered Nurses | $64.32 | $133,790 |
| Data Scientists | $62.81 | $130,650 |
| Information Security Analysts | $58.16 | $120,980 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $57.62 | $119,850 |
| Project Management Specialists | $54.74 | $113,860 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $51.63 | $107,400 |
| Web Developers | $49.23 | $102,390 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $47.47 | $98,740 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $44.12 | $91,760 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $41.28 | $85,870 |
| Electricians | $37.22 | $77,410 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $35.52 | $73,890 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $35.03 | $72,870 |
| Graphic Designers | $34.31 | $71,370 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $33.91 | $70,530 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $33.90 | $70,510 |
| Carpenters | $32.69 | $68,000 |
| Firefighters | $32.65 | $67,910 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $31.80 | $66,140 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $28.48 | $59,240 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $28.05 | $58,350 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $26.88 | $55,920 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $25.75 | $53,560 |
| Phlebotomists | $25.41 | $52,850 |
| Medical Assistants | $23.37 | $48,610 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $23.34 | $48,550 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $22.86 | $47,550 |
| Office Clerks, General | $22.52 | $46,840 |
| Nursing Assistants | $22.16 | $46,100 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $19.82 | $41,220 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $19.78 | $41,140 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $19.68 | $40,940 |
| Retail Salespersons | $19.63 | $40,830 |
Highest-paying occupations in San Diego
- Financial Managers — $189,570 a year
- Marketing Managers — $182,330 a year
- Software Developers — $152,270 a year
- Registered Nurses — $133,790 a year
- Data Scientists — $130,650 a year
Wages above cover the whole San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro. For statewide context, see the California salary page, or browse all 36 salary guides.
Frequently asked questions
Which occupation pays the most in San Diego?
Financial Managers leads, at about $189,570 a year in the latest BLS OEWS release (San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro).
Where does the data come from?
Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wages for the San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area, verified on 2026-10-08. Each occupation links to its full state-by-state table.
Is this pay for the city or the whole metro?
Pay covers the San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA — the city plus surrounding counties — which is exactly how the BLS publishes local wage data. Neighborhood-level pay varies.
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