SOC 17-2151 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Salary in San Diego, CA

The average salary for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers in San Diego, California is $111,350 a year ($53.53 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $107,590: half of the 50 people in this job in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($115,410).

$111,350average per year

$53.53 / hourMedian $107,590Take-home ≈ $80,901

  • $80K10th
  • $87K25th
  • $108KMedian
  • $130K75th
  • $172K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

50people in this job
-4%vs U.S. average
#4 of 4California metros
112cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers pay range in San Diego

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $172,500 or more. The middle half of mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers in San Diego earn between $86,680 and $130,320.

  • $80K10th
  • $87K25th
  • $108KMedian
  • $130K75th
  • $172K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$111,350$9,279$53.53
Median$107,590$8,966$51.73
Entry level (25th percentile)$86,680$7,223$41.67
Experienced (75th percentile)$130,320$10,860$62.65

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.

Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers in San Diego earn 22% less than the California average ($143,080) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($115,410). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $106,220.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Diego$111,350$107,590$79,530$172,50050
California$143,080$158,130$84,430$175,940520
United States$115,410$106,220$67,490$169,9906,080

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salary after taxes in San Diego

On the average salary of $111,350, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $80,901 a year, or $6,742 a month and $3,112 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is San Diego a good place for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers? 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 $111,350 buys what about $99,520 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $111,350 is worth in another city

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salary in other California cities

San Diego ranks 4th of 4 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($163,450).

All Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers

Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($171,000).

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salary by city

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Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers salary in San Diego: questions

How much do mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers make an hour in San Diego?

$53.53 an hour on average, and $51.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers salary in San Diego?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,680, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers take-home pay in San Diego?

About $80,901 a year ($6,742 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $111,350. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?

The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($115,410).

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 17-2151; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
  • 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 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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