Human Resources Manager Salary in San Diego, CA
Human Resources Managers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $163,190 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $109,738 take-home, or $9,145 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources manager salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,900
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,118
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,366
- California income tax$10,947
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,121
- Take-home pay$109,738
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Human Resources Manager pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,050 | $46.66 | $71,047 | $5,921 |
| 25th percentile | $124,470 | $59.84 | $87,377 | $7,281 |
| Median (50th) | $163,190 | $78.46 | $109,738 | $9,145 |
| 75th percentile | $208,460 | $100.22 | $137,291 | $11,441 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $282,400+ | $135.77 | $178,446 | $14,870 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $163,190 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 human resources manager's $109,738 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,079 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Manager jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for human resources managers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #55 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $220,460 | $144,650 | $130,996 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $191,190 | $133,038 | $124,493 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $209,340 | $137,845 | $119,230 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $184,990 | $128,708 | $118,881 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $160,580 | $115,124 | $117,989 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $158,930 | $114,062 | $117,169 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $171,360 | $128,391 | $115,529 |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | $138,560 | $105,972 | $114,963 |
| 55 | San Diego, CA | $163,190 | $109,738 | $98,079 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →
Human Resources Manager salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $220,460
- San Francisco, CA — $209,340
- Los Angeles, CA — $168,400
- Sacramento, CA — $155,360
- Riverside, CA — $139,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in San Diego, CA?
The median human resources manager salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $163,190 a year, or about $78.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $124,470 and $208,460.
What is a human resources manager’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $163,190 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $109,738 a year ($9,145 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,069 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a human resources manager?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $149,280. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,079 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #55 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources 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) — 27% of a median human resources 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
- Financial Manager — $174,210
- Managers, All Other — $169,240
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $163,200
- Purchasing Manager — $158,620
- Public Relations Manager — $157,630
- Training and Development Manager — $148,860
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $138,080