Nursing Assistant Salary in San Diego, CA
Nursing Assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $48,070 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,246 take-home, or $3,270 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,588
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,980
- Medicare (1.45%)$697
- California income tax$934
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$625
- Take-home pay$39,246
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,420 | $19.43 | $33,526 | $2,794 |
| 25th percentile | $46,710 | $22.46 | $38,247 | $3,187 |
| Median (50th) | $48,070 | $23.11 | $39,246 | $3,270 |
| 75th percentile | $51,600 | $24.81 | $41,824 | $3,485 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,510 | $29.09 | $48,333 | $4,028 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,070 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 nursing assistant's $39,246 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,076 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are less concentrated in San Diego, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #58 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 58 | San Diego, CA | $48,070 | $39,246 | $35,076 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $56,840
- San Francisco, CA — $56,080
- Sacramento, CA — $47,510
- Stockton, CA — $46,530
- Fresno, CA — $44,710
- Riverside, CA — $46,430
- Los Angeles, CA — $47,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in San Diego, CA?
The median nursing assistant salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $48,070 a year, or about $23.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,710 and $51,600.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $48,070 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $39,246 a year ($3,270 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,559 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,076 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #58 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant 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) — 75% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Dental Assistant — $58,120
- Medical Assistant — $49,420
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,300