Convert your annual salary to hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly pay in San Diego, and compare it to the local minimum wage and MIT living wage for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
San Diego minimum wage: $17.25/hour | Living wage: $27.30/hour
Median household income in San Diego is about $98,000. The applicable minimum wage is $17.25/hour, and the MIT living wage for a single adult is about $27.30/hour. Use the comparisons below to see where a given salary lands.
| Pay Benchmark (San Diego) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $17.25 | $35,880 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $27.30 | $56,784 |
| Median household income | $47.12 | $98,000 |
| Standard full-time hours | - | 2,080 hours/year |
San Diego pairs a major U.S. Navy and Marine Corps presence with a world-class biotech and life-sciences cluster, a busy tourism economy, and cross-border trade with Tijuana, all along one of the most desirable stretches of California coastline.
| Local Metric | San Diego (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 1.4 million |
| County / jurisdiction | San Diego County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 143 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $27.30/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $47.10/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $17.25/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $2,400/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $3,100/month |
| Median home price | $1,010,000 |
| Median household income | $98,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7.75% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.73% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
Divide your annual salary by your total work hours per year (40 hours/week times 52 weeks is 2,080 hours). For example, a $98,000 salary in San Diego is about $47.12/hour at full time.
Median household income in San Diego is around $98,000. Because the cost-of-living index is 143 (US average = 100) and average 1-bedroom rent is $2,400/month, what counts as comfortable depends heavily on housing costs.
The applicable minimum wage in San Diego is $17.25/hour, which is about $35,880/year at full time. The City of San Diego sets a local minimum wage above the California state floor and adjusts it annually for inflation.
The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in San Diego County needs about $27.30/hour, roughly $56,784/year, to cover basic costs without assistance.
At full time, $98,000/year is about $47.12/hour, $8,167/month gross, and $3,769 per biweekly paycheck before taxes.