Senior Materials Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes La Jolla, Carlsbad.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $112,320 |
| 25th | $120,765 |
| 50th (median) | $121,000 |
| 75th | $139,500 |
| 90th | $139,500 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median senior Materials Engineer salary of $121,000 is worth about $108,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Materials Engineers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $124,180 in May 2025 (260 employed). The H-1B median here is $121,000, 3% 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 8 |
| Senior · Level III | $121,000 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior · Level III | $120,765 | $121,000 | 11 |
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.