Biotech, defense, military, perfect weather premium. The complete 2026 San Diego pay reference for 100 occupations.
Sorted highest to lowest. Click any role for full detail.
| # | Job | Category | Median 2026 | 25th % | 75th % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEO (Mid-Market) | Business & Management | $677,300 | $514,700 | $880,500 |
| 2 | Surgeon | Healthcare | $553,000 | $420,300 | $718,900 |
| 3 | Chief Financial Officer | Finance | $507,800 | $385,900 | $660,100 |
| 4 | Physician (MD/DO) | Healthcare | $356,500 | $271,000 | $463,500 |
| 5 | Corporate Lawyer | Legal | $308,600 | $234,600 | $401,200 |
| 6 | Investment Banker | Finance | $279,900 | $212,700 | $363,900 |
| 7 | AI Engineer | Technology | $274,500 | $208,700 | $356,900 |
| 8 | Dentist | Healthcare | $262,000 | $199,100 | $340,500 |
| 9 | Machine Learning Engineer | Technology | $247,600 | $188,200 | $321,800 |
| 10 | Senior Software Engineer | Technology | $238,300 | $181,100 | $309,800 |
| 11 | Site Reliability Engineer | Technology | $229,800 | $174,600 | $298,700 |
| 12 | IT Manager | Technology | $219,100 | $166,500 | $284,900 |
| 13 | Product Manager | Technology | $215,600 | $163,800 | $280,300 |
| 14 | Judge / Magistrate | Legal | $214,900 | $163,300 | $279,400 |
| 15 | Lawyer / Attorney | Legal | $213,100 | $161,900 | $277,000 |
| 16 | Controller | Finance | $212,300 | $161,400 | $276,000 |
| 17 | Management Consultant | Business & Management | $210,300 | $159,800 | $273,400 |
| 18 | Data Scientist | Technology | $209,900 | $159,500 | $272,900 |
| 19 | Petroleum Engineer | Engineering | $207,300 | $157,500 | $269,400 |
| 20 | Sales Engineer | Sales | $207,300 | $157,500 | $269,400 |
| 21 | Marketing Manager | Business & Management | $203,100 | $154,300 | $264,000 |
| 22 | Data Engineer | Technology | $201,400 | $153,100 | $261,800 |
| 23 | Cloud Engineer (AWS/Azure) | Technology | $199,300 | $151,500 | $259,100 |
| 24 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $199,300 | $151,500 | $259,100 |
| 25 | Account Executive (SaaS) | Sales | $198,900 | $151,100 | $258,500 |
| 26 | DevOps Engineer | Technology | $194,300 | $147,700 | $252,600 |
| 27 | Sales Manager | Business & Management | $190,900 | $145,100 | $248,200 |
| 28 | Physician Assistant (PA) | Healthcare | $189,200 | $143,800 | $245,900 |
| 29 | Nurse Practitioner (NP) | Healthcare | $187,700 | $142,600 | $244,000 |
| 30 | Software Engineer | Technology | $187,200 | $142,300 | $243,400 |
| 31 | Mobile Developer (iOS/Android) | Technology | $187,200 | $142,300 | $243,400 |
| 32 | Aerospace Engineer | Engineering | $183,500 | $139,400 | $238,500 |
| 33 | Backend Developer | Technology | $183,000 | $139,100 | $237,900 |
| 34 | HR Manager | Business & Management | $182,100 | $138,400 | $236,700 |
| 35 | Cybersecurity Analyst | Technology | $177,500 | $134,900 | $230,800 |
| 36 | Actuary | Finance | $176,900 | $134,400 | $229,900 |
| 37 | Full-Stack Developer | Technology | $176,000 | $133,700 | $228,800 |
| 38 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $174,900 | $132,900 | $227,300 |
| 39 | General Manager | Business & Management | $167,000 | $126,900 | $217,100 |
| 40 | Frontend Developer | Technology | $164,900 | $125,300 | $214,400 |
| 41 | Chemical Engineer | Engineering | $162,700 | $123,700 | $211,600 |
| 42 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $156,800 | $119,200 | $203,900 |
| 43 | School Principal | Education | $155,400 | $118,100 | $202,000 |
| 44 | Construction Manager | Skilled Trades | $154,800 | $117,600 | $201,200 |
| 45 | Database Administrator (DBA) | Technology | $154,100 | $117,200 | $200,400 |
| 46 | College Professor | Education | $151,900 | $115,400 | $197,400 |
| 47 | Art Director | Creative & Media | $149,800 | $113,800 | $194,700 |
| 48 | Operations Manager | Business & Management | $147,800 | $112,300 | $192,100 |
| 49 | Supply Chain Manager | Business & Management | $147,800 | $112,300 | $192,100 |
| 50 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $147,300 | $112,000 | $191,500 |
| 51 | UX / Product Designer | Technology | $146,700 | $111,500 | $190,700 |
| 52 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $146,200 | $111,100 | $190,100 |
| 53 | Biomedical Engineer | Engineering | $144,800 | $110,100 | $188,300 |
| 54 | Project Manager (PMP) | Business & Management | $144,400 | $109,700 | $187,700 |
| 55 | Data Analyst | Technology | $141,500 | $107,500 | $183,900 |
| 56 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $141,100 | $107,200 | $183,400 |
| 57 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $141,100 | $107,200 | $183,400 |
| 58 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $138,700 | $105,400 | $180,200 |
| 59 | Financial Advisor | Finance | $136,500 | $103,700 | $177,400 |
| 60 | QA / Test Engineer | Technology | $135,900 | $103,300 | $176,700 |
| 61 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $134,100 | $101,900 | $174,400 |
| 62 | Business Analyst | Business & Management | $131,000 | $99,600 | $170,300 |
| 63 | Registered Nurse (RN) | Healthcare | $129,300 | $98,300 | $168,100 |
| 64 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $128,500 | $97,600 | $167,000 |
| 65 | Insurance Underwriter | Finance | $124,400 | $94,600 | $161,800 |
| 66 | Animator | Creative & Media | $123,900 | $94,200 | $161,100 |
| 67 | Tax Accountant | Finance | $119,400 | $90,700 | $155,200 |
| 68 | Credit Analyst | Finance | $118,800 | $90,300 | $154,400 |
| 69 | Accountant / CPA | Finance | $113,800 | $86,500 | $148,000 |
| 70 | Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $113,500 | $86,300 | $147,600 |
| 71 | Police Officer | Public Service | $109,500 | $83,200 | $142,400 |
| 72 | Sales Representative | Sales | $105,900 | $80,500 | $137,700 |
| 73 | Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $105,600 | $80,200 | $137,200 |
| 74 | Hotel Manager | Hospitality | $101,900 | $77,400 | $132,500 |
| 75 | Electrician | Skilled Trades | $99,700 | $75,800 | $129,600 |
| 76 | High School Teacher | Education | $98,600 | $74,900 | $128,100 |
| 77 | Special Education Teacher | Education | $98,300 | $74,700 | $127,700 |
| 78 | Plumber | Skilled Trades | $96,900 | $73,700 | $126,000 |
| 79 | Video Editor | Creative & Media | $95,700 | $72,800 | $124,500 |
| 80 | Elementary Teacher | Education | $95,400 | $72,500 | $124,000 |
| 81 | Social Media Manager | Creative & Media | $93,600 | $71,100 | $121,700 |
| 82 | Interior Designer | Creative & Media | $93,600 | $71,100 | $121,700 |
| 83 | Real Estate Agent | Real Estate | $93,600 | $71,100 | $121,700 |
| 84 | Firefighter | Public Service | $91,900 | $69,800 | $119,400 |
| 85 | School Counselor | Education | $91,400 | $69,400 | $118,800 |
| 86 | Chef / Head Cook | Hospitality | $89,600 | $68,100 | $116,500 |
| 87 | Heavy Equipment Operator | Skilled Trades | $88,900 | $67,500 | $115,500 |
| 88 | Medical Lab Technician | Healthcare | $86,700 | $65,900 | $112,700 |
| 89 | Paralegal | Legal | $86,300 | $65,600 | $112,200 |
| 90 | HVAC Technician | Skilled Trades | $86,000 | $65,400 | $111,800 |
| 91 | Social Worker | Public Service | $85,700 | $65,100 | $111,400 |
| 92 | Graphic Designer | Creative & Media | $84,900 | $64,600 | $110,400 |
| 93 | Carpenter | Skilled Trades | $83,400 | $63,400 | $108,400 |
| 94 | Content Writer / Copywriter | Creative & Media | $79,000 | $60,000 | $102,700 |
| 95 | Welder | Skilled Trades | $75,700 | $57,500 | $98,400 |
| 96 | Auto Mechanic | Skilled Trades | $74,500 | $56,600 | $96,900 |
| 97 | Photographer | Creative & Media | $66,600 | $50,600 | $86,500 |
| 98 | Administrative Assistant | Administrative | $63,600 | $48,300 | $82,600 |
| 99 | Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $63,500 | $48,300 | $82,600 |
| 100 | Customer Service Rep | Administrative | $55,300 | $42,000 | $71,900 |
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