SOC 51-2011 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Salary in San Diego, CA

The average salary for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in San Diego, California is $65,710 a year ($31.59 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $60,610: half of the 630 people in this job in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($71,420).

$65,710average per year

$31.59 / hourMedian $60,610Take-home ≈ $52,794

  • $50K10th
  • $60K25th
  • $61KMedian
  • $73K75th
  • $81K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

630people in this job
-8%vs U.S. average
#4 of 5California metros
112cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pay range in San Diego

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,050 or more. The middle half of aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in San Diego earn between $60,470 and $73,140.

  • $50K10th
  • $60K25th
  • $61KMedian
  • $73K75th
  • $81K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$65,710$5,476$31.59
Median$60,610$5,051$29.14
Entry level (25th percentile)$60,470$5,039$29.07
Experienced (75th percentile)$73,140$6,095$35.16

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.

Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers in San Diego earn 5% less than the California average ($69,050) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($71,420). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $65,380.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Diego$65,710$60,610$49,740$81,050630
California$69,050$63,640$48,120$94,2802,930
United States$71,420$65,380$47,310$107,50034,020

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary after taxes in San Diego

On the average salary of $65,710, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $52,794 a year, or $4,399 a month and $2,031 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is San Diego a good place for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $65,710 buys what about $58,729 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 14.4 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $65,710 is worth in another city

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary in other California cities

San Diego ranks 4th of 5 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($87,360).

All Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers

Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($102,450).

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary by city

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Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary in San Diego: questions

How much do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers make an hour in San Diego?

$31.59 an hour on average, and $29.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers salary in San Diego?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,470, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers take-home pay in San Diego?

About $52,794 a year ($4,399 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,710. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?

The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($71,420).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-2011; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.86, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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