How much does a life make in San Diego?
$75,970a year
Median yearly pay for lifes in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $36.52 an hour or $6,331 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.52
- Vs. national median
- +22%
- Rank among cities
- 21 of 182
- Jobs in the area
- 1,900
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $50,180Median: $75,970Highest 10%: $106,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,180 | $24.13 | |
| 25th | $55,090 | $26.49 | |
| Median | $75,970 | $36.52 | |
| 75th | $86,030 | $41.36 | |
| 90th | $106,400 | $51.17 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for lifes.
| Bakersfield, CA | $87,180 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $86,450 |
| San Jose, CA | $83,160 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79,180 |
| San Francisco, CA | $77,670 |
| Riverside, CA | $76,630 |
| Oxnard, CA | $74,100 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $66,290 |
| Sacramento, CA | $64,240 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $62,510 |
| Fresno, CA | $57,310 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $156,500 |
| Psychologist | $148,800 |
| Physical Scientist | $132,400 |
| School Psychologist | $131,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $131,000 |
| Epidemiologist | $125,300 |
| Economist | $122,800 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $121,700 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $120,400 |
| Microbiologist | $108,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a life make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $36.52 ($75,970 a year).
Do lifes make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $75,970 against $62,280 nationally, 22% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $78,350, so San Diego pays 3% less.
Where does San Diego rank for life pay?
21 of 182 metro areas with data.
How much does a life make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $50,180 or less a year; the top 10% make $106,400 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.