Expert Industrial Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 34 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, Escondido, Chula Vista.
Also listed as: Manufacturing Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $129,355 |
| 25th | $133,500 |
| 50th (median) | $142,147 |
| 75th | $155,225 |
| 90th | $176,074 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2021 | $127,746 | $114,881 | $136,059 | 12 |
| FY2022 | $125,500 | $125,000 | $131,250 | 28 |
| FY2023 | $150,000 | $123,958 | $175,191 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $135,000 | $123,779 | $149,850 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $141,074 | $129,355 | $155,225 | 22 |
| FY2026 | $142,147 | $142,147 | $149,575 | 12 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median expert Industrial Engineer salary of $142,147 is worth about $127,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Industrial Engineers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $119,050 in May 2025 (3,990 employed). The H-1B median here is $142,147, 19% 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
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Becton, Dickinson and Company | too few | 3 |
| Genentech | too few | 3 |
| Illumina | too few | 3 |
| Apple | too few | 2 |
| Value Management Strategies | 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 | $81,245 | 37 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,000 | 66 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,846 | 44 |
| Expert · Level IV | $142,147 | 34 |
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 | $77,189 | $81,245 | 37 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,578 | $100,000 | 66 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,846 | $121,846 | 44 |
| Expert · Level IV | $129,355 | $142,147 | 34 |
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.