Entry-level Electrical Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 25 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $84,219 |
| 25th | $84,219 |
| 50th (median) | $90,480 |
| 75th | $115,281 |
| 90th | $120,300 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $75,000 | $74,110 | $81,000 | 13 |
| FY2021 | $79,310 | $76,500 | $85,968 | 11 |
| FY2022 | $78,000 | $73,228 | $81,000 | 16 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2025 | $84,260 | $84,219 | $90,870 | 14 |
| FY2026 | $115,710 | $91,487 | $120,300 | 11 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median entry-level Electrical Engineer salary of $90,480 is worth about $80,900 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 $90,480, 29% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | too few | 4 |
| Innophase | too few | 2 |
| Mr Engineering Consultants | too few | 2 |
| Nemko | too few | 2 |
| Sgs North America | too few | 2 |
| Tessolve Semiconductor | too few | 2 |
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.