San Diego engineer salary
EstimateUpdated March 2025
What engineers earn in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro, with a full breakdown by role.
Typical pay
$139,762
San Diego
Top earners
$194,202
Higher end
vs national
+16% vs national
U.S. $120,395
State
CA
California
Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro earn an estimated $139,762, +16% vs national, with top earners near $194,202. See the full breakdown by role below, or estimate your own total compensation — the number sharpens as local engineers contribute.
Engineering pay by role in San Diego
Estimated pay for each discipline in San Diego. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.
| Engineering role | Pay band (10th–90th) | Median | 90th pct | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Manager Architecture & Engineering | $185,550 | $239,200 | Verified | ||
| Software Engineer Software & Technology | $159,240 | $212,100 | Verified | ||
| Data Engineer Emerging | $159,240 | $212,100 | Estimate | ||
| AI Engineer Emerging | $159,240 | $212,100 | Estimate | ||
| Machine Learning Engineer Emerging | $159,240 | $212,100 | Estimate | ||
| Cloud Engineer Emerging | $159,240 | $212,100 | Estimate | ||
| DevOps Engineer Emerging | $159,240 | $212,100 | Estimate | ||
| Aerospace Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $132,320 | $189,560 | Verified | ||
| Systems Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $130,550 | $184,150 | Estimate | ||
| Robotics Engineer Emerging | $130,550 | $184,150 | Estimate | ||
| Entry-Level Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $130,550 | $184,150 | Estimate | ||
| Senior Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $130,550 | $184,150 | Estimate | ||
| Electrical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $128,750 | $209,470 | Verified | ||
| Mechanical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $128,660 | $170,840 | Verified | ||
| Environmental Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $125,890 | $162,480 | Verified | ||
| Materials Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $124,130 | $164,410 | Verified | ||
| Biomedical Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $116,790 | $162,120 | Verified | ||
| Industrial Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $114,400 | $172,700 | Verified | ||
| Civil Engineer Architecture & Engineering | $106,350 | $164,060 | Verified |
- Verified
Engineering Manager
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$185,550
90th
$239,200
View details - Verified
Software Engineer
Software & Technology
Median
$159,240
90th
$212,100
View details - Estimate
Data Engineer
Emerging
Median
$159,240
90th
$212,100
View details - Estimate
AI Engineer
Emerging
Median
$159,240
90th
$212,100
View details - Estimate
Machine Learning Engineer
Emerging
Median
$159,240
90th
$212,100
View details - Estimate
Cloud Engineer
Emerging
Median
$159,240
90th
$212,100
View details - Estimate
DevOps Engineer
Emerging
Median
$159,240
90th
$212,100
View details - Verified
Aerospace Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$132,320
90th
$189,560
View details - Estimate
Systems Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$130,550
90th
$184,150
View details - Estimate
Robotics Engineer
Emerging
Median
$130,550
90th
$184,150
View details - Estimate
Entry-Level Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$130,550
90th
$184,150
View details - Estimate
Senior Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$130,550
90th
$184,150
View details - Verified
Electrical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$128,750
90th
$209,470
View details - Verified
Mechanical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$128,660
90th
$170,840
View details - Verified
Environmental Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$125,890
90th
$162,480
View details - Verified
Materials Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$124,130
90th
$164,410
View details - Verified
Biomedical Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$116,790
90th
$162,120
View details - Verified
Industrial Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$114,400
90th
$172,700
View details - Verified
Civil Engineer
Architecture & Engineering
Median
$106,350
90th
$164,060
View details
What affects engineering pay in San Diego
- ▹Local market. San Diego pay runs +16% vs national for the typical engineer, usually above the California statewide estimate.
- ▹Industry concentration.A metro's dominant employers (tech, defense, energy, healthcare) shift which engineering disciplines command a premium locally.
- ▹Experience & specialization. Seniority and in-demand skills swing pay well beyond the metro median — see the role table above and the calculator.
- ▹Remote work.Remote offers may anchor to a company's HQ market rather than San Diego, raising or lowering local pay.
Other California metros
Engineer salaries in San Diego — FAQ
How much do engineers make in San Diego?
What is the highest-paying engineering role in San Diego?
How does engineering pay in San Diego compare to the national average?
Source details
BLS publishes no single "engineer" occupation. This blends the published medians of 10 engineering occupations in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, weighted by local employment (41,290 jobs).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →