Industrial Engineer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Industrial Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $119,050 a year ($57.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,120 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $102,440. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $124,600. There are 2.6 industrial engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $120,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for industrial engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,530 | $35.35 |
| 25th percentile | $96,600 | $46.44 |
| Median | $119,050 | $57.24 |
| 75th percentile | $137,880 | $66.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,120 | $79.87 |
| Average (mean) | $120,260 | $57.82 |
Half of industrial engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,920.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,960.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,578.85 |
| Weekly | $2,289.42 |
| Hourly | $57.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $119,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Industrial Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,950 | 4,800 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,230 | 5,470 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $131,740 | 120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $121,660 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $119,790 | 380 |
| Vallejo, CA | $113,630 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $113,040 | 11,460 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $110,190 | 910 |
| Napa, CA | $106,380 | 30 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $104,700 | 280 |
| Visalia, CA | $101,860 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,700 | 1,580 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $101,630 | 610 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $101,280 | 280 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $100,380 | 110 |
| Chico, CA | $99,350 | 40 |
| El Centro, CA | $99,330 | 30 |
| Modesto, CA | $98,560 | 150 |
| Fresno, CA | $97,650 | 260 |
| Salinas, CA | $95,100 | 60 |
| Merced, CA | $91,490 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for industrial engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $156,510 |
| Washington | $129,050 |
| Oregon | $128,290 |
| New Mexico | $128,090 |
| California | $124,600 |
| Hawaii | $123,800 |
| Louisiana | $122,920 |
| Wyoming | $122,070 |
| Delaware | $120,190 |
| Maryland | $119,930 |
See Industrial Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,900 | $52.35 |
| Engineers, All Other | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $156,480 | $75.23 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,750 | $58.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $174,440 | $83.87 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,270 | $61.19 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,010 | $64.91 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,390 | $57.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,270 | $61.67 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $124,740 | $59.97 |
| Materials Engineer | $124,180 | $59.70 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $118,100 | $56.78 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $107,590 | $51.73 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $91,620 | $44.05 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2112. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for industrial engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $119,050 a year, or $57.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid industrial engineers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of industrial engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $166,120 a year. The top 25% earn $137,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for industrial engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,530 a year, and a quarter of industrial engineers earn $96,600 or less.
How many industrial engineers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 3,990 industrial engineers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.