Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary Salary in San Diego, CA
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $163,200 a year — 54% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $109,744 take-home, or $9,145 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median education administrators, kindergarten through secondary salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,902
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,118
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,366
- California income tax$10,948
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,122
- Take-home pay$109,744
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,670 | $49.36 | $74,405 | $6,200 |
| 25th percentile | $127,770 | $61.43 | $89,283 | $7,440 |
| Median (50th) | $163,200 | $78.46 | $109,744 | $9,145 |
| 75th percentile | $168,770 | $81.14 | $112,960 | $9,413 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $201,970 | $97.10 | $133,199 | $11,100 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $163,200 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 education administrators, kindergarten through secondary's $109,744 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,084 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary jobs are less concentrated in San Diego, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #4 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $174,260 | $130,373 | $117,312 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $161,380 | $108,693 | $102,114 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $163,210 | $114,231 | $101,482 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $163,200 | $109,744 | $98,084 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $161,590 | $108,814 | $95,815 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $160,820 | $108,369 | $93,734 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $129,130 | $95,562 | $93,182 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $131,880 | $95,441 | $91,343 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
About the job: education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salaries elsewhere in California
- Riverside, CA — $161,380
- Los Angeles, CA — $161,590
- San Francisco, CA — $160,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary make in San Diego, CA?
The median education administrators, kindergarten through secondary salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $163,200 a year, or about $78.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $127,770 and $168,770.
What is a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $163,200 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $109,744 a year ($9,145 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,070 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary?
Pay here is 54% above the national median of $105,870. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,084 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #4 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary 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) — 27% of a median education administrators, kindergarten through secondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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