Social and Human Service Assistant Salary in San Diego, CA
Social and Human Service Assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $49,500 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,290 take-home, or $3,358 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median social and human service assistant salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,760
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,069
- Medicare (1.45%)$718
- California income tax$1,019
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$644
- Take-home pay$40,290
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Social and Human Service Assistant pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,860 | $19.16 | $33,106 | $2,759 |
| 25th percentile | $46,980 | $22.59 | $38,449 | $3,204 |
| Median (50th) | $49,500 | $23.80 | $40,290 | $3,358 |
| 75th percentile | $61,860 | $29.74 | $49,319 | $4,110 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,040 | $34.15 | $55,412 | $4,618 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,500 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 social and human service assistant's $40,290 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,010 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.5× the national concentration of social and human service assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for social and human service assistants, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #26 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $58,090 | $48,855 | $43,961 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $49,150 | $41,672 | $42,494 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $45,860 | $37,810 | $40,857 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $53,810 | $43,439 | $40,723 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $46,550 | $38,239 | $39,959 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $57,580 | $46,193 | $39,955 |
| 7 | Syracuse, NY | $47,330 | $38,251 | $39,952 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $46,100 | $39,221 | $39,767 |
| 26 | San Diego, CA | $49,500 | $40,290 | $36,010 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: social and human service assistants
Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Social and Human Service Assistant salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $53,810
- San Francisco, CA — $57,580
- Riverside, CA — $48,370
- Los Angeles, CA — $50,330
Frequently asked questions
How much does a social and human service assistant make in San Diego, CA?
The median social and human service assistant salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $49,500 a year, or about $23.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,980 and $61,860.
What is a social and human service assistant’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $49,500 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $40,290 a year ($3,358 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,663 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a social and human service assistant?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $45,930. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,010 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #26 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a social and human service 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) — 73% of a median social and human service assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.