SOC 25-1067 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in San Diego, CA

The average salary for sociology teachers, postsecondary in San Diego, California is $147,450 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $141,950: half of the 110 people in this job in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 52% more than the U.S. average for this job ($96,980).

$147,450average per year

Median $141,950Take-home ≈ $102,427

  • $76K10th
  • $109K25th
  • $142KMedian
  • $172K75th
  • $234K90th

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

110people in this job
+52%vs U.S. average
#2 of 6California metros
112cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary pay range in San Diego

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $233,850 or more. The middle half of sociology teachers, postsecondary in San Diego earn between $108,740 and $172,130.

  • $76K10th
  • $109K25th
  • $142KMedian
  • $172K75th
  • $234K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$147,450$12,288—
Median$141,950$11,829—
Entry level (25th percentile)$108,740$9,062—
Experienced (75th percentile)$172,130$14,344—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.

Sociology teachers, postsecondary in San Diego earn 6% more than the California average ($138,470) and 52% more than the U.S. average ($96,980). At the median the gap is +68% against the U.S. median of $84,290.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Diego$147,450$141,950$75,820$233,850110
California$138,470$127,680$71,710$233,850810
United States$96,980$84,290$49,930$160,14011,850

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

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary salary after taxes in San Diego

On the average salary of $147,450, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $102,427 a year, or $8,536 a month and $3,940 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% 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 sociology teachers, postsecondary? 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 $147,450 buys what about $131,785 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $147,450 is worth in another city

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary salary in other California cities

San Diego ranks 2nd of 6 California metro areas for this job; Riverside pays the most ($161,030).

All Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for sociology teachers, postsecondary

Riverside, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($161,030).

Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary salary by city

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Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary salary in San Diego: questions

What is the entry-level sociology teachers, postsecondary salary in San Diego?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $108,740, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the sociology teachers, postsecondary take-home pay in San Diego?

About $102,427 a year ($8,536 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $147,450. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do sociology teachers, postsecondary earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?

The average here is 52% more than the U.S. average for this job ($96,980).

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 25-1067; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
  • 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 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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