Chief Executives Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $238,440 +15.5% vs national
Median hourly $114.64
10th percentile $85,510
90th percentile $493,480
Employed locally 2,710
National median $206,420

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Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chief Executives
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San Diego, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $85,510
    25th
    $155,810
    50th (median)
    $238,440
    75th
    $387,130
    90th
    $493,480

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Chief Executives salary vs area income 233% Median Chief Executives salary is 133% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chief Executives

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Medford, OR $615,500
    Midland, MI $587,950
    Midland, TX $389,330
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $388,060
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $381,330
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $375,810

    Nearby metros — Chief Executives salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $344,960
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $292,770
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $288,690
    Raleigh-Cary, NC $286,050
    Napa, CA $241,590
    Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $234,890

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    General and Operations Managers $119,600
    Managers, All Other $167,000
    Sales Managers $125,430
    Financial Managers $168,300
    Computer and Information Systems Managers $193,370
    Medical and Health Services Managers $160,640

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chief Executives make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Chief Executives in San Diego, CA is $114.64, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $237.25 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Chief Executives salaries?

    The median Chief Executives salary in San Diego, CA is 15.5% above the national median of $206,420. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chief Executives in San Diego?

    Entry-level Chief Executives (10th percentile) earn around $85,510 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $155,810.