Financial Manager Salary in San Diego, CA
Financial Managers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $174,210 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $116,102 take-home, or $9,675 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median financial manager salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,544
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,801
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,526
- California income tax$11,972
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,265
- Take-home pay$116,102
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Financial Manager pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,950 | $48.53 | $73,377 | $6,115 |
| 25th percentile | $133,960 | $64.40 | $92,857 | $7,738 |
| Median (50th) | $174,210 | $83.75 | $116,102 | $9,675 |
| 75th percentile | $235,400 | $113.17 | $152,874 | $12,740 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $326,930+ | $157.18 | $201,623 | $16,802 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $174,210 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 financial manager's $116,102 take-home pay has the buying power of $103,767 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Financial Manager jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for financial managers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #123 of 177 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport, CT | $211,000 | $146,519 | $137,107 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls, SD | $163,580 | $123,073 | $135,796 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $221,010 | $152,151 | $135,169 |
| 4 | Midland, TX | $172,520 | $129,183 | $134,871 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $209,780 | $145,861 | $134,725 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $225,280 | $147,303 | $133,399 |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | $192,970 | $135,904 | $129,184 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $193,400 | $136,206 | $128,761 |
| 123 | San Diego, CA | $174,210 | $116,102 | $103,767 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 177 metros →
Financial Manager salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $225,280
- San Francisco, CA — $216,150
- Modesto, CA — $160,180
- Bakersfield, CA — $153,030
- Sacramento, CA — $163,090
- Los Angeles, CA — $175,310
- Oxnard, CA — $169,900
- Santa Rosa, CA — $164,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a financial manager make in San Diego, CA?
The median financial manager salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $174,210 a year, or about $83.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $133,960 and $235,400.
What is a financial manager’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $174,210 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $116,102 a year ($9,675 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,237 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a financial manager?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $166,570. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $103,767 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #123 of 177 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a financial manager 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) — 25% of a median financial manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Chief Executive — $238,440
- Natural Sciences Manager — $207,200
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $206,740
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $202,810
- Marketing Manager — $174,840
- Managers, All Other — $169,240
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $163,200
- Human Resources Manager — $163,190
- Purchasing Manager — $158,620
- Public Relations Manager — $157,630
- Training and Development Manager — $148,860
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $138,080