Quick answer: Human Resources Specialists in the San Diego area earn a median $81,300 per year, above the national median of $75,940, and the metro employs about 9,110 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | San Diego metro | California | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $81,300 | $83,500 | $75,940 |
| 10th percentile | $51,780 | $52,770 | $47,180 |
| 25th percentile | $65,710 | $66,060 | $58,610 |
| 75th percentile | $107,800 | $117,430 | $99,380 |
| 90th percentile | $140,130 | $151,410 | $128,720 |
| Employment | 9,110 | 104,000 | 912,430 |
| Location quotient | 1.01 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area.
The San Diego median of $81,300 is above the national median of $75,940, and below the California statewide median of $83,500 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.01 means human resources specialists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
HR headcount tracks employer headcount. Metros with large corporate, health system or public sector employers support the deepest HR job markets.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $80,220 | 36,850 |
| San Francisco | $103,140 | 16,420 |
| San Jose | $112,140 | 7,970 |
| Riverside | $76,570 | 7,210 |
| Sacramento | $80,950 | 5,360 |
| Fresno | $74,170 | 1,770 |
| Oxnard | $80,560 | 1,710 |
| Bakersfield | $76,700 | 1,240 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Human resources is not licensed. The recognized professional credentials are the PHR and SPHR from HRCI and the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP from SHRM, all of which pair an examination with an experience requirement. On the academic side, SHRM aligns degree programs to its curriculum guidelines, which is the nearest thing this field has to programmatic accreditation.
See the California licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 10 schools within 94 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
The median annual wage for human resources specialists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $81,300, above the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area employs about 9,110 human resources specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Human resources is not licensed. The recognized professional credentials are the PHR and SPHR from HRCI and the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP from SHRM, all of which pair an examination with an experience requirement. On the academic side, SHRM aligns degree programs to its curriculum guidelines, which is the nearest thing this field has to programmatic accreditation. Confirm current requirements with HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
The San Diego metro median is $81,300 against a statewide median of $83,500 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
