SOC 53-4041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Subway and Streetcar Operators — San Diego
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Median pay in San Diego, CA is $60,970 a year, 29.4% under the national median of $86,380 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in San Diego, CA is $60,970 a year, 29.4% under the national median of $86,380 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $60,970 and $77,030. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $57,680 and the ninetieth at $77,030.
The area has 200 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.01 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 401st of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $57,680 | −33.2% |
| 25th | $60,970 | −29.4% |
| Median (50th) | $60,970 | −29.4% |
| 75th | $77,030 | −10.8% |
| 90th | $77,030 | −10.8% |
| Mean | $67,700 | −21.6% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Diego run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $60,970 buys what $55,077 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 36.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,077US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,970 a year, 29.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $57,680 to $77,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Subway and Streetcar Operators in San Diego, CA?
The median annual wage is $60,970, or $29.31 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $86,380, so pay in San Diego, CA is 29.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Diego, CA earns more than $77,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $57,680 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in San Diego, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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