Project Management Specialists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $171,400 or more. The middle half of project management specialists in San Diego earn between $86,370 and $139,940.
- $70K10th
- $86K25th
- $117KMedian
- $140K75th
- $171K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $120,130 | $10,011 | $57.75 |
| Median | $117,460 | $9,788 | $56.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,370 | $7,198 | $41.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $139,940 | $11,662 | $67.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Project Management Specialists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Project management specialists in San Diego earn 3% less than the California average ($124,430) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($110,740). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $102,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $120,130 | $117,460 | $69,660 | $171,400 | 10,740 |
| California | $124,430 | $120,910 | $69,180 | $188,560 | 114,380 |
| United States | $110,740 | $102,320 | $61,580 | $167,970 | 1,066,670 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Project Management Specialists salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $120,130, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $86,261 a year, or $7,188 a month and $3,318 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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 project management 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 $120,130 buys what about $107,367 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Project Management Specialists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 4th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($146,170).
- San Jose$146,170
- San Francisco$140,820
- Sacramento$124,130
- San Diego$120,130
- Los Angeles$120,110
- Napa$118,940
- San Luis Obispo$118,060
- Hanford$117,270
- Santa Rosa$115,250
- Chico$115,070
Highest-paying cities for project management specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($146,170).
- San Jose, CA$146,170
- San Francisco, CA$140,820
- Seattle, WA$133,590
- New York, NY$131,730
- Washington, DC$129,050
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Project Management Specialists salary in San Diego: questions
How much do project management specialists make an hour in San Diego?
$57.76 an hour on average, and $56.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level project management specialists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the project management specialists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $86,261 a year ($7,188 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $120,130. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do project management specialists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($110,740).
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 13-1082; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.