Staff engineer salary in San Diego, CA
How much does a Staff Engineer make in San Diego, CA?
Average base salary
- Hour
- Year
The average salary for a staff engineer is $181,529 per year in San Diego, CA. 110 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated October 30, 2026).
Highest paying companies for Staff Engineer in San Diego, CA
Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.Looking to Hire?
Highest paying cities for Staff Engineers near San Diego, CA
Where can a Staff Engineer earn more?
Compare salaries for Staff Engineers in different locations
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Staff Engineer
The average salary for a Staff Engineer is $181,529 per year in San Diego, CA. This figure is based on 110 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on October 30, 2026.
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Staff Engineer salaries in San Diego, CA typically range between a low of $126,398 and a high of $260,706 per year, depending on experience and the hiring company.
Some of the highest-paying cities for Staff Engineer in San Diego, CA include San Francisco, CA at $235,393 per year, Palo Alto, CA at $216,101 per year, and San Mateo, CA at $205,102 per year.
Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Staff Engineer in San Diego, CA include Confidential ($258,019 per year) and Arm ($226,437 per year).