Expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 137 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carlsbad, Poway, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $136,906 |
| 25th | $138,200 |
| 50th (median) | $148,928 |
| 75th | $175,000 |
| 90th | $197,960 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $118,776 | $111,384 | $135,000 | 59 |
| FY2021 | $134,500 | $118,607 | $159,000 | 73 |
| FY2022 | $140,000 | $122,182 | $160,000 | 96 |
| FY2023 | $136,000 | $124,200 | $158,850 | 66 |
| FY2024 | $136,953 | $136,552 | $169,335 | 66 |
| FY2025 | $141,000 | $136,906 | $163,280 | 89 |
| FY2026 | $163,300 | $148,928 | $188,069 | 48 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $148,928 is worth about $133,100 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 $148,928, 17% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $148,928 | 11 |
| Apple | too few | 9 |
| Icw Group Holdings | too few | 8 |
| GoFundMe | too few | 7 |
| ServiceNow | too few | 6 |
| Taylor Made Golf Company | too few | 6 |
| Accenture | too few | 5 |
| HCLTech | too few | 5 |
| Midland Credit Management | too few | 5 |
| Solar Turbines Incorporated | too few | 4 |
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.