Cashier Salary in San Diego, CA
Cashiers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $37,020 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,974 take-home, or $2,581 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cashier salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,262
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,295
- Medicare (1.45%)$537
- California income tax$470
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$481
- Take-home pay$30,974
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cashier pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,090 | $16.87 | $29,526 | $2,460 |
| 25th percentile | $36,060 | $17.34 | $30,254 | $2,521 |
| Median (50th) | $37,020 | $17.80 | $30,974 | $2,581 |
| 75th percentile | $40,760 | $19.60 | $33,781 | $2,815 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,070 | $23.59 | $39,976 | $3,331 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,020 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cashier's $30,974 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,683 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cashier jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for cashiers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #91 of 202 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $44,210 | $37,703 | $33,926 |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | $34,960 | $29,219 | $32,172 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $42,960 | $35,432 | $32,088 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | $33,420 | $29,033 | $31,950 |
| 5 | Kennewick, WA | $36,610 | $31,596 | $31,571 |
| 6 | Duluth, MN | $33,020 | $27,764 | $31,277 |
| 7 | Spokane, WA | $36,290 | $31,339 | $31,231 |
| 8 | St. Cloud, MN | $32,480 | $27,359 | $31,220 |
| 91 | San Diego, CA | $37,020 | $30,974 | $27,683 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 202 metros →
About the job: cashiers
Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -6.5% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cashier salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $42,960
- Santa Rosa, CA — $38,440
- San Francisco, CA — $41,270
- Modesto, CA — $36,490
- Bakersfield, CA — $35,220
- Visalia, CA — $34,770
- Vallejo, CA — $37,810
- Fresno, CA — $35,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cashier make in San Diego, CA?
The median cashier salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $37,020 a year, or about $17.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,060 and $40,760.
What is a cashier’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $37,020 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $30,974 a year ($2,581 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $951 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a cashier?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $32,880. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,683 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #91 of 202 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cashier afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 95% of a median cashier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Insurance Sales Agent — $77,020
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $76,180
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $76,100
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $74,610
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $56,300
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $42,600
- Retail Salesperson — $37,810