Mid-level Engineering Director salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $166,000 |
| 25th | $169,250 |
| 50th (median) | $169,250 |
| 75th | $183,000 |
| 90th | $208,300 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $144,461 | $136,843 | $150,000 | 16 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2022 | $161,000 | $147,014 | $198,600 | 20 |
| FY2023 | $147,014 | $147,014 | $147,014 | 10 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2025 | $169,250 | $166,000 | $181,000 | 13 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 8 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median mid-level Engineering Director salary of $169,250 is worth about $151,300 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 $169,250, 17% 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
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.