Embedded Systems Engineer Salary in San Diego

💰 $137K–$169K salary range

Median: $158K  ·  Based on 18 public San Diego job postings  ·  Updated September 20, 2026

This Embedded Systems Engineer salary benchmark for San Diego is built from public job postings at high-growth and AI-native companies — no private placement data. Figures reflect the posted-range midpoint and are refreshed as new postings are collected.

📊 Salary breakdown

Embedded Systems Engineer pay in San Diego vs. national

• San Diego: $158K median
• National: $160K median

San Diego Embedded Systems Engineer pay runs 2% below the national median.

Engineering salaries in San Diego by seniority

• Software Engineer: $145K
• Senior Software Engineer: $149K
• Embedded Systems Engineer: $158K
• Hardware Engineer: $162K
• ASIC / Chip Design Engineer: $180K
• Staff Software Engineer: $193K

What does a Embedded Systems Engineer in San Diego do?

Embedded Systems Engineers are engineers who design, build, and operate the core software systems. This benchmark reflects Mid-level base compensation for San Diego-based roles at high-growth and AI-native companies.

Common questions

What is the average Embedded Systems Engineer salary in San Diego?
The median pay is $158K, with a typical range of $137K–$169K, based on 18 public San Diego job postings collected in 2025–2026.

How does San Diego compare to the national Embedded Systems Engineer salary?
The national median is $160K; San Diego is shown above.

Where does this data come from?
Public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. Minimum 15 San Diego postings.

Methodology

Posted-range midpoints (USD) aggregated from 18 public job postings located in San Diego (2025–2026). Range = 25th–75th percentile; median = 50th percentile. Equity is excluded. At least 15 San Diego postings required to publish. Last refreshed September 20, 2026.

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