Purchasing Manager Salary in San Diego, CA
Purchasing Managers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $158,620 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $107,099 take-home, or $8,925 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median purchasing manager salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,803
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,834
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,300
- California income tax$10,522
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,062
- Take-home pay$107,099
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Purchasing Manager pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,470 | $47.82 | $72,493 | $6,041 |
| 25th percentile | $126,500 | $60.82 | $88,549 | $7,379 |
| Median (50th) | $158,620 | $76.26 | $107,099 | $8,925 |
| 75th percentile | $184,480 | $88.69 | $122,033 | $10,169 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $226,910 | $109.09 | $148,201 | $12,350 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $158,620 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 purchasing manager's $107,099 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,720 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Purchasing Manager jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for purchasing managers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #34 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $161,910 | $115,259 | $124,546 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $180,000 | $127,084 | $120,138 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $198,980 | $131,304 | $118,910 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $165,910 | $116,678 | $116,610 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $163,660 | $116,423 | $116,077 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $150,190 | $110,573 | $115,941 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $174,640 | $122,120 | $112,797 |
| 8 | Huntsville, AL | $146,970 | $104,636 | $112,425 |
| 34 | San Diego, CA | $158,620 | $107,099 | $95,720 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Purchasing Manager salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $198,980
- San Francisco, CA — $170,440
- Los Angeles, CA — $156,400
- Riverside, CA — $131,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a purchasing manager make in San Diego, CA?
The median purchasing manager salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $158,620 a year, or about $76.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $126,500 and $184,480.
What is a purchasing manager’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $158,620 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $107,099 a year ($8,925 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,584 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a purchasing manager?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $148,080. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,720 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #34 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a purchasing 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) — 28% of a median purchasing 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
- Human Resources Manager — $163,190
- Public Relations Manager — $157,630
- Training and Development Manager — $148,860
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