How much does a designer make in San Diego?
$76,070a year
Median yearly pay for designers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $36.57 an hour or $6,339 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.57
- Vs. national median
- +17%
- Rank among cities
- 8 of 36
- Jobs in the area
- 140
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $54,010Median: $76,070Highest 10%: $124,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,010 | $25.97 | |
| 25th | $60,470 | $29.07 | |
| Median | $76,070 | $36.57 | |
| 75th | $109,900 | $52.82 | |
| 90th | $124,600 | $59.88 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for designers.
| San Jose, CA | $129,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | $84,180 |
| Riverside, CA | $65,370 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $58,930 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $126,100 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $123,200 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $118,800 |
| Musician and Singer | $106,400 |
| Technical Writer | $101,800 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $99,650 |
| Producer and Director | $99,520 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $85,180 |
| Film and Video Editor | $83,480 |
| Writer and Author | $82,590 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a designer make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $36.57 ($76,070 a year).
Do designers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $76,070 against $64,950 nationally, 17% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $65,420, so San Diego pays 16% more.
Where does San Diego rank for designer pay?
8 of 36 metro areas with data.
How much does a designer make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $54,010 or less a year; the top 10% make $124,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.