Job Salary Guide · 2026
Economist Salary After Tax in San Diego
Based on BLS OEWS data · CA · Single filer
Economist Salary Range
25th Percentile
$88,000
Take-home:
$65,872
$5,489/mo
Entry to mid-level
Median
$116,000
Take-home:
$82,966
$6,914/mo
Typical salary
75th Percentile
$152,000
Take-home:
$104,271
$8,689/mo
Senior / specialist
Tax Breakdown
At median salary of $116,000
Cost of Living in San Diego
1BR Monthly Rent
$2,250/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
$2,900/mo
COL Index
1.67
Comfortable Rent Max
$1,728/mo
50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner
Based on your monthly take-home of $6,914 ($82,968/yr)
$3,457
per month
- ›Rent / mortgage
- ›Groceries
- ›Utilities
- ›Insurance
- ›Minimum debt payments
- ›Transportation
$2,074
per month
- ›Dining out
- ›Streaming services
- ›Gym
- ›Hobbies
- ›Travel
- ›Shopping
$1,383
per month
- ›Emergency fund
- ›401(k) / IRA
- ›Investments
- ›Down payment fund
- ›Debt payoff (extra)
Needs / year
$41,484
Wants / year
$24,890
Savings / year
$16,594
Economist Salary in Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Economist salary in San Diego?
The median Economist salary in San Diego (CA) is $116,000 per year based on BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $88,000 and the 75th percentile is $152,000.
What is the take-home pay for a Economist in San Diego?
At the median salary of $116,000, a Economist in CA takes home approximately $82,966 per year ($6,914/month) after federal and state taxes. The effective tax rate is 28.48%.
Can a Economist afford rent in San Diego?
The average 1-bedroom rent in San Diego is $2,250/month. On the median Economist salary, your rent-to-income ratio is 32.5%, which is "Moderate". Financial experts recommend keeping rent below 25–30% of take-home pay ($1,728/month at this salary).
How does cost of living affect Economist salaries in San Diego?
San Diego has a cost-of-living index of 1.67 (1.00 = national average). San Diego is 67% more expensive than the US average, which reduces the real purchasing power of the Economist salary.