Project Management Specialist Salary in San Diego, CA
Project Management Specialists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $117,460 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $83,242 take-home, or $6,937 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,011
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,283
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,703
- California income tax$6,694
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,527
- Take-home pay$83,242
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Project Management Specialist pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,660 | $33.49 | $54,570 | $4,547 |
| 25th percentile | $86,370 | $41.52 | $64,666 | $5,389 |
| Median (50th) | $117,460 | $56.47 | $83,242 | $6,937 |
| 75th percentile | $139,940 | $67.28 | $96,311 | $8,026 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,400 | $82.40 | $114,479 | $9,540 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $117,460 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 project management specialist's $83,242 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,398 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Project Management Specialist jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #130 of 209 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peoria, IL | $123,730 | $89,856 | $98,492 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $125,940 | $97,346 | $97,269 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | $100,381 | $90,325 |
| 4 | Huntsville, AL | $112,130 | $82,372 | $88,503 |
| 5 | Beaumont, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $88,300 |
| 6 | Davenport, IA | $102,880 | $77,948 | $87,505 |
| 7 | Rochester, MN | $106,270 | $77,888 | $85,760 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $122,040 | $90,019 | $85,568 |
| 130 | San Diego, CA | $117,460 | $83,242 | $74,398 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 209 metros →
Project Management Specialist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $135,120
- Sacramento, CA — $124,350
- San Francisco, CA — $135,040
- Bakersfield, CA — $104,580
- Fresno, CA — $101,030
- San Luis Obispo, CA — $108,730
- Stockton, CA — $104,240
- Santa Rosa, CA — $107,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in San Diego, CA?
The median project management specialist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $117,460 a year, or about $56.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $86,370 and $139,940.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $117,460 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $83,242 a year ($6,937 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,221 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,398 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #130 of 209 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist 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) — 35% of a median project management specialist’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
- 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
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $89,650