San Diego project manager salary: rankings and context
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with CA, and with other jobs in San Diego.
San Diego vs the national and CA picture
San Jose leads at US$135,120, 15% above San Diego, while San Antonio sits at US$92,130. The neighbours in the ranking are New York and Denver.
CA has 4 metros with observed figures for this role. Their average is US$124,000, and San Diego comes 3rd, -5% against it; elsewhere in the state: Los Angeles (US$108,310), San Jose (US$135,120) and San Francisco (US$135,040).
Cost of living and take-home in San Diego
Price levels in San Diego (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$117,500.
Its place holds after a cost-of-living adjustment — 6th of 21 either way.
Run the median through our simplified tax model (14% effective) and about US$8,400 lands each month. Budget US$1,650 for a modeled 1-bedroom — 20% of pay — and other modeled costs, and roughly US$4,870 remains.
Other CA options for project managers
In Los Angeles — also in CA — the median is US$108,310 (-8% vs San Diego), and the modeled budget leaves US$590 less each month.
A project manager moving from San Diego to San Jose (also in CA) would see the median rise 15% to US$135,120, with US$1,130 more left over monthly in our model.
New York (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$126,660, 8% more than San Diego; modeled monthly leftover is US$590 higher.
Project Manager vs other occupations in San Diego
Of the 9 roles we track in San Diego, Project Manager is 6th by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$178,220).
Closest neighbours in the San Diego list: Mechanical Engineer at US$121,750 (+4%) and Financial Analyst at US$106,040 (-10%).
Entry-level vs senior project manager pay in San Diego
Starting pay holds up better than senior pay here. The 10th percentile places 8th nationally among observed metros; the 90th places 10th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$212,340 at the 90th percentile, +24% against San Diego.
How wide project manager pay runs in San Diego
Expect wide variation between offers: the 10th percentile is US$69,660 and the 90th US$171,400, a 2.5× ratio.