Electricians pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,260 or more. The middle half of electricians in San Diego earn between $60,110 and $101,760.
- $48K10th
- $60K25th
- $76KMedian
- $102K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,240 | $6,853 | $39.54 |
| Median | $76,160 | $6,347 | $36.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,110 | $5,009 | $28.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,760 | $8,480 | $48.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Electricians pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Electricians in San Diego earn 4% less than the California average ($85,860) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($71,490). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $63,190.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $82,240 | $76,160 | $47,890 | $126,260 | 8,060 |
| California | $85,860 | $76,160 | $46,800 | $140,340 | 73,310 |
| United States | $71,490 | $63,190 | $42,640 | $108,510 | 757,220 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Electricians salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $82,240, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $63,130 a year, or $5,261 a month and $2,428 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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.
Is San Diego a good place for electricians? 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 $82,240 buys what about $73,503 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 11.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Electricians salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 13th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($103,690).
- San Francisco$103,690
- San Jose$99,650
- Hanford$92,270
- Vallejo$88,890
- Santa Rosa$86,020
- San Luis Obispo$84,200
- Modesto$83,790
- Napa$83,600
- Salinas$83,410
- San Diego$82,240
Highest-paying cities for electricians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($103,690).
- San Francisco, CA$103,690
- Mount Vernon, WA$103,040
- Portland, OR$103,030
- Albany, OR$100,180
- Seattle, WA$99,720
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Electricians salary in San Diego: questions
How much do electricians make an hour in San Diego?
$39.54 an hour on average, and $36.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level electricians salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the electricians take-home pay in San Diego?
About $63,130 a year ($5,261 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do electricians earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($71,490).
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 47-2111; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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