SOC 17-3029 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other Salary in San Diego, CA

The average salary for other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters) in San Diego, California is $92,690 a year ($44.56 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $92,480: half of the 1,450 people in this job in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($80,960).

$92,690average per year

$44.56 / hourMedian $92,480Take-home ≈ $69,509

  • $52K10th
  • $66K25th
  • $92KMedian
  • $115K75th
  • $132K90th

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

1,450people in this job
+14%vs U.S. average
#6 of 15California metros
112cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other pay range in San Diego

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,600 or more. The middle half of other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters) in San Diego earn between $66,040 and $114,730.

  • $52K10th
  • $66K25th
  • $92KMedian
  • $115K75th
  • $132K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$92,690$7,724$44.56
Median$92,480$7,707$44.46
Entry level (25th percentile)$66,040$5,503$31.75
Experienced (75th percentile)$114,730$9,561$55.16

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

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.

Other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters) in San Diego earn 6% more than the California average ($87,070) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($80,960). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $78,350.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Diego$92,690$92,480$52,380$131,6001,450
California$87,070$80,480$52,060$128,8807,330
United States$80,960$78,350$47,030$118,33059,930

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

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other salary after taxes in San Diego

On the average salary of $92,690, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $69,509 a year, or $5,792 a month and $2,673 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters)? 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 $92,690 buys what about $82,843 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 10.2 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $92,690 is worth in another city

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other salary in other California cities

San Diego ranks 6th of 15 California metro areas for this job; Bakersfield pays the most ($99,020).

All Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters)

Bremerton, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($108,690).

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other salary by city

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Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other salary in San Diego: questions

How much do other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters) make an hour in San Diego?

$44.56 an hour on average, and $44.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters) salary in San Diego?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,040, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters) take-home pay in San Diego?

About $69,509 a year ($5,792 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,690. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do other engineering technologists and technicians (except drafters) earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?

The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($80,960).

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 17-3029; 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 2.45, this job is 2.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.