25th pctl
$125K
Hardware Engineering (Blend) Salary in San Diego
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median (p50)
$148K
75th pctl
$172K
90th pctl
$192K
Adjusted for San Diego at 1.13× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Hardware Engineering (Blend) in San Diego pulls a median of $148,030 at mid-IC, with a top-quartile band reaching $171,760 and the 90th percentile at $192,100. Comp in San Diego runs about 13% above the national baseline. $171,760 is what top-quartile Hardware Engineering (Blend) pay looks like in San Diego. Don't undersell.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$171,760 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$159,895 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$148,030 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real comp data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
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Hardware Engineering (Blend) elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on company, level, equity structure, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.