Electrical Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 226 certified H-1B filings in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carlsbad, Chula Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Poway.
Also listed as: Electrical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $108,555 |
| 25th | $113,943 |
| 50th (median) | $135,788 |
| 75th | $160,181 |
| 90th | $171,600 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,000 | $92,906 | $117,000 | 149 |
| FY2021 | $117,073 | $101,117 | $135,107 | 156 |
| FY2022 | $122,000 | $97,693 | $152,500 | 159 |
| FY2023 | $124,259 | $101,254 | $150,000 | 140 |
| FY2024 | $129,000 | $108,261 | $153,473 | 92 |
| FY2025 | $133,100 | $111,426 | $157,206 | 133 |
| FY2026 | $139,500 | $120,300 | $171,600 | 93 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median Electrical Engineer salary of $135,788 is worth about $121,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Electrical Engineers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $127,270 in May 2025 (2,400 employed). The H-1B median here is $135,788, 7% 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 | $139,500 | 79 |
| Maxlinear | $136,989 | 15 |
| Asml | $110,781 | 13 |
| Mirafra | $111,560 | 12 |
| Innophase | too few | 6 |
| Rohde & Schwarz | too few | 6 |
| Globalstar | too few | 4 |
| MediaTek | too few | 4 |
| Microsoft | too few | 4 |
| Mr Engineering Consultants | 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 | $90,480 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $111,000 | 66 |
| Senior · Level III | $136,989 | 75 |
| Expert · Level IV | $166,600 | 52 |
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 | $84,573 | $90,480 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $110,781 | $111,000 | 66 |
| Senior · Level III | $132,870 | $136,989 | 75 |
| Expert · Level IV | $157,206 | $166,600 | 52 |
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.