Orderlies pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,890 or more. The middle half of orderlies in San Diego earn between $49,150 and $50,580.
- $43K10th
- $49K25th
- $49KMedian
- $51K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,580 | $4,298 | $24.80 |
| Median | $49,410 | $4,118 | $23.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,150 | $4,096 | $23.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,580 | $4,215 | $24.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Orderlies pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Orderlies in San Diego earn 5% less than the California average ($54,480) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($40,660). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $38,290.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $51,580 | $49,410 | $42,700 | $64,890 | 330 |
| California | $54,480 | $49,920 | $39,630 | $74,010 | 4,870 |
| United States | $40,660 | $38,290 | $32,240 | $50,600 | 52,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Orderlies salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $51,580, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $42,337 a year, or $3,528 a month and $1,628 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 orderlies? 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 $51,580 buys what about $46,100 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 18.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Orderlies salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 6th of 11 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($66,910).
- San Jose$66,910
- San Francisco$66,390
- Santa Rosa$59,870
- Sacramento$59,390
- Los Angeles$51,830
- San Diego$51,580
- Bakersfield$51,090
- Riverside$50,690
- Modesto$49,680
- Santa Maria$48,950
Highest-paying cities for orderlies
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($66,910).
- San Jose, CA$66,910
- San Francisco, CA$66,390
- Santa Rosa, CA$59,870
- Sacramento, CA$59,390
- Los Angeles, CA$51,830
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Orderlies salary in San Diego: questions
How much do orderlies make an hour in San Diego?
$24.80 an hour on average, and $23.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level orderlies salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the orderlies take-home pay in San Diego?
About $42,337 a year ($3,528 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,580. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do orderlies earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% more than the U.S. average for this job ($40,660).
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 31-1132; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.