Electrician Salary in San Diego, CA
Electricians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $76,160 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,538 take-home, or $4,878 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrician salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,925
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,722
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,104
- California income tax$2,881
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$990
- Take-home pay$58,538
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Electrician pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,890 | $23.02 | $39,114 | $3,260 |
| 25th percentile | $60,110 | $28.90 | $48,041 | $4,003 |
| Median (50th) | $76,160 | $36.62 | $58,538 | $4,878 |
| 75th percentile | $101,760 | $48.92 | $73,861 | $6,155 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,260 | $60.70 | $88,411 | $7,368 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,160 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 electrician's $58,538 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,319 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrician jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for electricians, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #136 of 221 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $104,510 | $82,353 | $80,389 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $99,850 | $79,074 | $79,012 |
| 3 | Kokomo, IN | $91,290 | $70,389 | $78,517 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $97,590 | $77,485 | $74,985 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $96,600 | $76,788 | $74,070 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $102,350 | $75,912 | $73,277 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $101,780 | $80,432 | $72,375 |
| 8 | Trenton, NJ | $98,210 | $73,855 | $71,579 |
| 136 | San Diego, CA | $76,160 | $58,538 | $52,319 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 221 metros →
Electrician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $91,030
- San Francisco, CA — $92,830
- Bakersfield, CA — $75,860
- Modesto, CA — $76,710
- Stockton, CA — $76,410
- Vallejo, CA — $79,490
- Salinas, CA — $78,780
- Santa Rosa, CA — $77,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrician make in San Diego, CA?
The median electrician salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $76,160 a year, or about $36.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,110 and $101,760.
What is a electrician’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $76,160 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $58,538 a year ($4,878 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,871 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a electrician?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $63,190. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,319 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #136 of 221 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrician 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) — 50% of a median electrician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $98,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $95,850
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $83,670
- Sheet Metal Worker — $80,080
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $76,400
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $76,290
- Carpenter — $73,200
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $72,510
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $66,530
- Glazier — $65,150
- Roofer — $62,180
- Solar Photovoltaic Installer — $61,340