Systems Engineer / Architect salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 396 certified H-1B filings in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carlsbad, Poway, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $81,058 |
| 25th | $92,622 |
| 50th (median) | $131,036 |
| 75th | $148,928 |
| 90th | $175,747 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $90,000 | $73,424 | $111,384 | 303 |
| FY2021 | $100,000 | $80,662 | $124,886 | 304 |
| FY2022 | $109,434 | $81,150 | $133,838 | 358 |
| FY2023 | $113,500 | $85,987 | $136,552 | 192 |
| FY2024 | $115,453 | $85,987 | $136,906 | 244 |
| FY2025 | $120,765 | $82,100 | $140,000 | 267 |
| FY2026 | $145,000 | $120,000 | $161,200 | 129 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $131,036 is worth about $117,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $127,600 in May 2025 (7,340 employed). The H-1B median here is $131,036, 3% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | $134,800 | 21 |
| Cognizant | $136,906 | 19 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | $81,058 | 19 |
| ServiceNow | $114,868 | 14 |
| HCLTech | $136,906 | 12 |
| Amazon | $172,305 | 11 |
| California Creative Solutions | $62,400 | 11 |
| BTI Solutions | $64,459 | 10 |
| Icw Group Holdings | too few | 8 |
| GoFundMe | too few | 7 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $64,272 | 37 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $92,622 | 129 |
| Senior · Level III | $129,600 | 87 |
| Expert · Level IV | $148,928 | 137 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $53,123 | $64,272 | 37 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $81,058 | $92,622 | 129 |
| Senior · Level III | $108,971 | $129,600 | 87 |
| Expert · Level IV | $136,906 | $148,928 | 137 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.