Engineering Professor salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 16 certified H-1B filings in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes San Marcos, La Jolla.
Also listed as: Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Assistant Professor of Engineering
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $106,023 |
| 25th | $108,000 |
| 50th (median) | $109,194 |
| 75th | $115,881 |
| 90th | $123,100 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $101,702 | $98,223 | $111,175 | 10 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2022 | $108,550 | $101,004 | $124,800 | 10 |
| FY2023 | $108,204 | $103,008 | $141,150 | 10 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2025 | $108,300 | $108,000 | $112,191 | 12 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 4 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median Engineering Professor salary of $109,194 is worth about $97,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $126,680 in May 2025 (230 employed). The H-1B median here is $109,194, 14% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego State University | too few | 8 |
| University of San Diego | too few | 4 |
| California State University San Marcos | 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 | too few | 3 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.