Physical Scientists, All Other Salary in San Diego, CA

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

Median annual salary $129,540 +9.8% vs national
Median hourly $62.28
10th percentile $93,520
90th percentile $180,070
Employed locally 200
National median $117,960

Compare Physical Scientists, All Other salary & buying power

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

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Physical Scientists, All Other
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $93,520
    25th
    $106,670
    50th (median)
    $129,540
    75th
    $149,450
    90th
    $180,070

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Physical Scientists, All Other salary vs area income 127% Median Physical Scientists, All Other salary is 27% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physical Scientists, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $174,810
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $170,960
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $168,870
    Minnesota $167,110
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $162,610
    District of Columbia $157,980

    Nearby metros — Physical Scientists, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $174,810
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $147,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $141,980
    South Carolina $134,430
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $132,750
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $132,490

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $128,270
    Biological Scientists, All Other $105,160
    Biological Technicians $61,070
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other $65,560
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $99,990
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $97,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physical Scientists, All Other make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in San Diego, CA is $62.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $92.24 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Physical Scientists, All Other salaries?

    The median Physical Scientists, All Other salary in San Diego, CA is 9.8% above the national median of $117,960. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physical Scientists, All Other in San Diego?

    Entry-level Physical Scientists, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $93,520 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $106,670.