Expert IT Manager salary in San Diego, CA

Based on 35 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Poway, La Jolla, Chula Vista.

Also listed as: Engineering Manager, Technical Program Manager

Median salary$236,101
Middle 50%$236.1k–$267k
vs. all levels here+18%comparison median $200,000
Filings35FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $206,945 and $364,700.
PercentileSalary
10th$230,131
25th$236,101
50th (median)$236,101
75th$267,038
90th$303,720

Salary by year

Median salary

$170k $215k $260k FY2020: median $213,500 (12 filings) FY2021: median $197,787 (13 filings) FY2022: median $199,000 (26 filings) FY2023: median $218,000 (23 filings) FY2024: median $219,063 (18 filings) FY2025: median $238,265 (17 filings) FY2026: median $236,101 (18 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 12 filings FY20 FY2021: 13 filings FY21 FY2022: 26 filings FY22 FY2023: 23 filings FY23 FY2024: 18 filings FY24 FY2025: 17 filings FY25 FY2026: 18 filings FY26 26
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$213,500$179,434$233,29112
FY2021$197,787$164,150$212,00013
FY2022$199,000$197,787$212,50026
FY2023$218,000$203,466$245,00023
FY2024$219,063$216,736$255,36418
FY2025$238,265$230,131$278,00017
FY2026$236,101$236,101$256,05018

Cost of living

San Diego's median expert IT Manager salary of $236,101 is worth about $211,000 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).

Compared with all workers here

All Computer and Information Systems Managers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $206,740 in May 2025 (7,250 employed). The H-1B median here is $236,101, 14% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
ServiceNowtoo few8
GoFundMetoo few7
Appletoo few2
Deloittetoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I too few 4
Mid-level · Level II $186,000 87
Senior · Level III $215,000 35
Expert · Level IV $236,101 35

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$166,691$186,00087
Senior · Level III$198,411$215,00035
Expert · Level IV$236,101$236,10135

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.