Chief Executive Salary in San Diego, CA
Chief Executives in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $238,440 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $154,548 take-home, or $12,879 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$47,605
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,803
- California income tax$17,945
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$3,100
- Take-home pay$154,548
Marginal rate: 32% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chief Executive pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,510 | $41.11 | $64,152 | $5,346 |
| 25th percentile | $155,810 | $74.91 | $105,476 | $8,790 |
| Median (50th) | $238,440 | $114.63 | $154,548 | $12,879 |
| 75th percentile | $387,130+ | $186.12 | $232,856 | $19,405 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $493,480+ | $237.25 | $286,726 | $23,894 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $238,440 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 chief executive's $154,548 take-home pay has the buying power of $138,128 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of chief executive jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #7 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $239,200+ | $201,659 | $196,637 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $239,200+ | $186,336 | $186,228 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $239,200+ | $198,593 | $176,428 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $239,200+ | $181,719 | $157,179 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $238,440 | $154,548 | $138,128 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $209,980 | $142,627 | $136,066 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →
About the job: chief executives
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Chief Executive salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $239,200+
- Los Angeles, CA — $234,290
- Sacramento, CA — $169,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in San Diego, CA?
The median chief executive salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $238,440 a year, or about $114.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $155,810 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $238,440 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $154,548 a year ($12,879 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $21,045 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $138,128 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #7 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive 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) — 19% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Natural Sciences Manager — $207,200
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $206,740
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $202,810
- Marketing Manager — $174,840
- Financial Manager — $174,210
- Managers, All Other — $169,240
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $163,200
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $138,080
- Construction Manager — $133,210
- Administrative Services Manager — $122,000
- Sales Manager — $119,750
- General and Operations Manager — $119,600