Electrical Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
Electrical Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $127,270 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,994 take-home, or $7,416 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,279
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,891
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,845
- California income tax$7,607
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,655
- Take-home pay$88,994
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,080 | $38.50 | $60,907 | $5,076 |
| 25th percentile | $93,660 | $45.03 | $69,021 | $5,752 |
| Median (50th) | $127,270 | $61.19 | $88,994 | $7,416 |
| 75th percentile | $162,340 | $78.05 | $109,247 | $9,104 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,610 | $98.37 | $134,863 | $11,239 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $127,270 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 electrical engineer's $88,994 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,539 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 1.2× the national concentration of electrical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #17 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $140,210 | $107,100 | $96,371 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $166,030 | $111,378 | $96,337 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $124,390 | $96,287 | $93,400 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,730 | $94,648 | $92,291 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $128,610 | $92,960 | $85,863 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $127,270 | $88,994 | $79,539 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: electrical engineers
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Electrical Engineer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $187,060
- San Francisco, CA — $166,030
- Los Angeles, CA — $139,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in San Diego, CA?
The median electrical engineer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $127,270 a year, or about $61.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $93,660 and $162,340.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $127,270 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $88,994 a year ($7,416 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,261 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,539 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #17 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer 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) — 33% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $174,440
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $156,480
- Engineers, All Other — $132,790
- Mechanical Engineer — $121,750
- Industrial Engineer — $119,050
- Civil Engineer — $108,900