Fundraiser Salary in San Diego, CA
Fundraisers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $76,300 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,623 take-home, or $4,885 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fundraiser salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,956
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,731
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,106
- California income tax$2,892
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$992
- Take-home pay$58,623
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Fundraiser pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,780 | $24.89 | $41,956 | $3,496 |
| 25th percentile | $61,250 | $29.45 | $48,874 | $4,073 |
| Median (50th) | $76,300 | $36.68 | $58,623 | $4,885 |
| 75th percentile | $98,840 | $47.52 | $72,116 | $6,010 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,910 | $64.38 | $92,829 | $7,736 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,300 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 fundraiser's $58,623 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,395 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fundraiser jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for fundraisers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #35 of 44 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $106,760 | $76,849 | $69,595 |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $73,090 | $58,122 | $60,736 |
| 3 | Rochester, NY | $75,000 | $58,140 | $59,916 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $81,020 | $62,343 | $59,666 |
| 5 | Buffalo, NY | $73,480 | $57,152 | $59,631 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $76,490 | $59,294 | $59,259 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $80,920 | $65,757 | $59,170 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $68,230 | $54,560 | $58,957 |
| 35 | San Diego, CA | $76,300 | $58,623 | $52,395 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 44 metros →
Fundraiser salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $106,760
- Sacramento, CA — $76,860
- San Francisco, CA — $82,930
- Riverside, CA — $74,480
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fundraiser make in San Diego, CA?
The median fundraiser salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $76,300 a year, or about $36.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,250 and $98,840.
What is a fundraiser’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $76,300 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $58,623 a year ($4,885 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,884 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a fundraiser?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $72,550. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,395 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #35 of 44 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fundraiser 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 fundraiser’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Personal Financial Advisor — $130,330
- Project Management Specialist — $117,460
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $106,040
- Compliance Officer — $101,230
- Management Analyst — $101,190
- Logistician — $100,130
- Property Appraiser and Assessor — $99,850
- Insurance Underwriter — $98,210
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $96,580
- Accountant and Auditor — $96,340
- Credit Analyst — $95,310
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $90,070