Expert Engineering Director salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 18 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Poway, La Jolla.
Also listed as: Architectural and Engineering Manager, Manager Hardware Engineering
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $215,134 |
| 25th | $220,542 |
| 50th (median) | $220,542 |
| 75th | $242,561 |
| 90th | $257,952 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2022 | $195,395 | $195,395 | $208,534 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $203,736 | $203,736 | $215,998 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $208,395 | $208,395 | $217,243 | 11 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median expert Engineering Director salary of $220,542 is worth about $197,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Architectural and Engineering Managers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $202,810 in May 2025 (3,270 employed). The H-1B median here is $220,542, 9% 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
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 3 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $169,250 | 21 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | $220,542 | 18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $169,250 | $169,250 | 21 |
| Expert · Level IV | $215,134 | $220,542 | 18 |
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.