Expert Validation Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes La Jolla, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Solana Beach.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $155,000 |
| 25th | $160,000 |
| 50th (median) | $166,600 |
| 75th | $166,600 |
| 90th | $171,600 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median expert Validation Engineer salary of $166,600 is worth about $148,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Validation Engineers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $132,790 in May 2025 (3,570 employed). The H-1B median here is $166,600, 25% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | too few | 5 |
| Dexcom | 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 | 2 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $121,000 | 31 |
| Senior · Level III | $134,800 | 25 |
| Expert · Level IV | $166,600 | 11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $102,835 | $121,000 | 31 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,030 | $134,800 | 25 |
| Expert · Level IV | $145,205 | $166,600 | 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.