Human Resources Specialists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $140,130 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in San Diego earn between $65,710 and $107,800.
- $52K10th
- $66K25th
- $81KMedian
- $108K75th
- $140K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,760 | $7,647 | $44.12 |
| Median | $81,300 | $6,775 | $39.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,710 | $5,476 | $31.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,800 | $8,983 | $51.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in San Diego earn 4% less than the California average ($95,180) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $91,760 | $81,300 | $51,780 | $140,130 | 9,110 |
| California | $95,180 | $83,500 | $52,770 | $151,410 | 104,000 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $91,760, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $68,942 a year, or $5,745 a month and $2,652 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 human resources specialists? 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 $91,760 buys what about $82,011 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 6th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($122,290).
- San Jose$122,290
- San Francisco$113,530
- Santa Cruz$93,190
- Vallejo$92,480
- Santa Maria$91,880
- San Diego$91,760
- Napa$91,260
- Oxnard$90,570
- Los Angeles$89,780
- Sacramento$89,450
Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
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Human Resources Specialists salary in San Diego: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in San Diego?
$44.12 an hour on average, and $39.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $68,942 a year ($5,745 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,760. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do human resources specialists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
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 13-1071; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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