Marketing Manager Salary in San Diego, CA
Marketing Managers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $174,840 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $116,466 take-home, or $9,705 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median marketing manager salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,696
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,840
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,535
- California income tax$12,031
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,273
- Take-home pay$116,466
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Marketing Manager pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,510 | $47.84 | $72,517 | $6,043 |
| 25th percentile | $132,130 | $63.52 | $91,801 | $7,650 |
| Median (50th) | $174,840 | $84.06 | $116,466 | $9,705 |
| 75th percentile | $228,110 | $109.67 | $148,861 | $12,405 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $305,740+ | $146.99 | $190,594 | $15,883 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $174,840 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 marketing manager's $116,466 take-home pay has the buying power of $104,092 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Marketing Manager jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for marketing managers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #58 of 86 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | $208,440 | $144,055 | $139,616 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $213,910 | $148,696 | $137,343 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $231,370 | $150,656 | $136,435 |
| 4 | Fayetteville, AR | $175,260 | $124,434 | $136,212 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $199,280 | $138,646 | $135,234 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $199,570 | $140,534 | $133,585 |
| 7 | Durham, NC | $175,160 | $124,508 | $127,606 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $164,920 | $123,989 | $126,434 |
| 58 | San Diego, CA | $174,840 | $116,466 | $104,092 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 86 metros →
Marketing Manager salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $231,370
- San Francisco, CA — $220,480
- Sacramento, CA — $164,270
- Oxnard, CA — $169,540
- Los Angeles, CA — $171,900
- Riverside, CA — $157,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a marketing manager make in San Diego, CA?
The median marketing manager salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $174,840 a year, or about $84.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $132,130 and $228,110.
What is a marketing manager’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $174,840 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $116,466 a year ($9,705 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,303 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a marketing manager?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $166,790. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $104,092 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #58 of 86 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a marketing 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 marketing 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
- Financial Manager — $174,210
- 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