Survey Researchers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $157,990 or more. The middle half of survey researchers in San Diego earn between $68,680 and $84,880.
- $65K10th
- $69K25th
- $70KMedian
- $85K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,670 | $7,222 | $41.67 |
| Median | $69,620 | $5,802 | $33.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,680 | $5,723 | $33.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,880 | $7,073 | $40.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Survey Researchers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Survey researchers in San Diego earn 15% less than the California average ($102,180) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($79,580). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $69,460.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $86,670 | $69,620 | $65,320 | $157,990 | 60 |
| California | $102,180 | $83,520 | $52,110 | $171,640 | 1,180 |
| United States | $79,580 | $69,460 | $39,260 | $130,860 | 8,290 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Survey Researchers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $86,670, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $65,834 a year, or $5,486 a month and $2,532 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 survey researchers? 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 $86,670 buys what about $77,462 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 10.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Survey Researchers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 4th of 4 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($142,860).
- San Francisco$142,860
- San Jose$127,690
- Los Angeles$87,710
- San Diego$86,670
Highest-paying cities for survey researchers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,860).
- San Francisco, CA$142,860
- San Jose, CA$127,690
- Detroit, MI$111,760
- Ann Arbor, MI$101,790
- Washington, DC$101,780
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Survey Researchers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do survey researchers make an hour in San Diego?
$41.67 an hour on average, and $33.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level survey researchers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the survey researchers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $65,834 a year ($5,486 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,670. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do survey researchers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($79,580).
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 19-3022; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.0%.
- 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 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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