Entry-level Systems Engineer salary in San Diego, CA

Based on 15 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Poway, Carlsbad.

Median salary$62,400
Middle 50%$62.4k–$77.7k
vs. all levels here−48%comparison median $119,434
Filings15FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $62,400 and $135,236.
PercentileSalary
10th$62,400
25th$62,400
50th (median)$62,400
75th$77,688
90th$121,720

Cost of living

San Diego's median entry-level Systems Engineer salary of $62,400 is worth about $55,800 at national average prices.

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

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
California Creative Solutions$62,40011
Knerontoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $62,400 15
Mid-level · Level II $123,940 18
Senior · Level III $143,187 18
Expert · Level IV too few 3

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.