Tapers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $114,500 or more. The middle half of tapers in San Diego earn between $62,070 and $88,870.
- $51K10th
- $62K25th
- $77KMedian
- $89K75th
- $114K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,060 | $6,505 | $37.53 |
| Median | $76,720 | $6,393 | $36.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,070 | $5,172 | $29.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,870 | $7,406 | $42.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tapers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Tapers in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($76,260) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $68,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $78,060 | $76,720 | $50,710 | $114,500 | 420 |
| California | $76,260 | $73,460 | $45,800 | $115,370 | 4,540 |
| United States | $72,710 | $68,270 | $43,670 | $107,110 | 12,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tapers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $78,060, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $60,573 a year, or $5,048 a month and $2,330 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 tapers? 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 $78,060 buys what about $69,767 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 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Tapers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 3rd of 9 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($99,680).
- San Jose$99,680
- San Francisco$90,220
- San Diego$78,060
- Stockton$75,720
- Fresno$75,310
- Los Angeles$73,810
- Sacramento$68,230
- Santa Maria$67,370
- Riverside$62,030
Highest-paying cities for tapers
Chicago, IL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,620).
- Chicago, IL$105,620
- San Jose, CA$99,680
- San Francisco, CA$90,220
- Philadelphia, PA$89,200
- Honolulu, HI$88,800
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Tapers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do tapers make an hour in San Diego?
$37.53 an hour on average, and $36.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tapers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tapers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $60,573 a year ($5,048 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,060. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do tapers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,710).
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 47-2082; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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 3.27, this job is 3.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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