Many people often associate San Diego with amazing beaches and flawless weather. However, over the years this city has evolved to become a tech hub as well. The biggest companies in San Diego span several industries, including tourism, manufacturing, and research. If you want to learn about the biggest companies in San Diego where you can kickstart your career, this guide is for you.
San Diego Job Market
In the past, the most important sector in the San Diego job market was defense. At the moment, the most prominent and active industries in the job market are healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. These fields will continue to grow and attract talent from all over the United States.
San Diego Key Industries
- Healthcare
- Technology
- Manufacturing
What Is San Diego’s Unemployment Rate?
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the rate of unemployment is 5.3% as of October 2021. This represents a slight reduction from September 2021’s rate of 5.6%, and a significant decrease from the unemployment rate in July 2021, which was 6.9%.
Who Is the Largest Employer in San Diego?
The largest employer in San Diego is Naval Base San Diego. The base houses around 50 ships and more than 150 tenant commands across 13 piers. It spans 326 acres of water and 16 acres of land. At the time of writing, the naval base had over 34,000 employees.
Top Employers in San Diego: At a Glance
| Company | Industry | Global Headcount | Hiring for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Base San Diego | Military | 34,185 | Pilots, Navy Software Engineer, Electronics Technician |
| Sharp Healthcare | Healthcare | 19,131 | Associate Consultant, Director, Data Manager |
| San Diego Unified School District | Education | 15,800 | Head Counselor, Teacher, School Principal |
| Qualcomm | Technology | 12,000 | Senior Software Engineer, System Software Developer, Hardware Engineer |
| Scripps Health | Healthcare | 11,800 | Physician, Director, Data Architect |
| Pulse Electronics | Technology | 11,000 | Division Director, IT Director, Group Supervisor |
| Teradata | Technology | 8,535 | Senior Cloud Software Engineer, Senior Database, Development Engineer, Staff Software Engineer |
| ResMed | Healthtech | 6,000 | Marketing Vice President, IT Analyst, Technical Engineer |
| Aya healthcare | Healthcare | 5,830 | Senior Software Engineer, Digital Advertising Manager, Systems Engineer |
| EAG Laboratories | Technology | 1,500 | Environmental Scientist, Electronic Engineer, Laboratory Analyst |
Largest San Diego Companies to Work For
Naval Base San Diego
With a rich history since its founding in 1922, the base currently boasts 54 ships, which include 46 United States Navy ships, and two US Coast Guard cutters. The base hires pilots, software engineers, and electronics technicians to support their different defense activities.
What Is it Like to Work at Naval Base San Diego?
Working at the Naval Base San Diego lets you work alongside individuals of diverse backgrounds. There are ample opportunities to develop leadership skills. Current employees and service members enjoy the travel the jobs require, steady pay, and a range of benefits like health insurance, mental health care, and life insurance.
Top Reasons to Work at Naval Base San Diego
- Diverse team environment
- Stable salary
- Strong benefits package
Sharp HealthCare
Launched in 1955 and located in San Diego, this not-for-profit healthcare group boasts three specialty hospitals, four acute-care hospitals, and three affiliated companies/medical groups. There are at least 19,000 employees at Sharp HealthCare, including 2,600 physicians.
What Is it Like to Work at Sharp HealthCare?
Helping patients at Sharp HealthCare provides employees with a sense of purpose. Workers are presented with benefits including wellness programs, group voluntary benefit plans, and a tax-deferred retirement program. Employees are also entitled to paid time off and maternity and paternity leave.
Top Reasons to Work at Sharp HealthCare
- Supportive environment
- Clear sense of purpose
- Range of benefits
San Diego Unified School District
Founded in 1854, the San Diego Unified School District comprises more than 200 institutions and at least 15,800 employees. Teachers in this district earn an average salary of $67,000 per year, alongside several benefit packages worth about $24,000 annually.
The district is split into 113 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, and 27 high schools. It also contains 10 alternative schools, four atypical schools, and 25 charter schools.
What Is it Like to Work at San Diego Unified School District?
Working at the San Diego School District gives you the chance to provide knowledge and support to young people in different capacities. There are career growth opportunities and room for advancement. Attractive benefits include health insurance, a pension plan, and paid time off.
Top Reasons to Work at San Diego Unified School District
- A chance to support youth in the community
- Competitive salaries
- Strong benefits package
Qualcomm
This American multinational corporation has its headquarters located in the city of San Diego. Qualcomm specializes in creating software, semiconductors, and other services related to wireless technology. In recent times, this organization has started providing semiconductor products in fabless manufacturing models.
Qualcomm designs semiconductor components for watches, vehicles, smartphones, Wi-Fi, laptops, and other devices.
What Is it Like to Work at Qualcomm?
Employees at Qualcomm can advance in their careers through its constant focus on innovation and employee development programs. Team members are described as competent and professional. The company boasts world-class medical coverage, stock options, and generous time-off policies.
Top Reasons to Work at Qualcomm
- Work-life balance
- Strong focus on innovation
- Benefits like health insurance and stock options
Scripps Health
Established in 1924, this non-profit healthcare system consists of 19 outpatient facilities and five hospitals. Scripps Health provides care for roughly 500,000 patients annually and boasts over 2,600 affiliated physicians. It is also known for its incorporation of new technologies like artificial intelligence into various aspects of patient care.
What Is it Like to Work at Scripps Health?
Scripps Health was once ranked 37th on a list of the “100 best companies to work for” by Forbes magazine, pointing to its retirement programs and contributions. The company provides resources like the New Graduate RN Residency Program, Scripps Leadership Academy, and Career Planning Services to help staff members meet personal goals and advance their careers.
Top Reasons to Work at Scripps Health
- Career advancement opportunities
- Clear sense of purpose
- Competitive pay and time off
Pulse Electronics
Pulse Electronics is a successful company that provides its services across several industries. It develops cutting-edge technology and advanced components, which can improve technological capabilities and user experience. Some of its products include automotive powering stations, components to power, Internet-Of-Things antennas, wireless consumer antennas, and automotive networking components.
What Is it Like to Work at Pulse Electronics?
Pulse Electronics provides a friendly working environment. There is a cordial relationship between workers and management. Pulse Electronic offers its employees a comprehensive package, including dental, vision, and prescription plans and holidays.
Top Reasons to Work at Pulse Electronics
- Supportive work environment
- Opportunities for career advancement
- Comprehensive benefits package
Teradata
This software company designs and delivers analytics-related products, software, and services. Teradata provides flexibility so that organizations can handle massive data workloads. It ensures that data is easier to consume everywhere, without any added risk. The private company was established in 1979 and has over 8,500 employees.
What Is it Like to Work at Teradata?
Teradata provides a great working environment for its workers to learn and grow while delivering top-quality products for their clients. Workers also enjoy fair pay, career development, and several incentives, including employee assistance programs, free lunches, and gym memberships.
Top Reasons to Work at Teradata
- Flexible time and work
- Competitive pay
- Professional development benefits
ResMed
This company focuses on the production of medical devices. It is committed to making relevant technologies available to patients and other healthcare providers. ResMed is known for its devices and cloud services to tackle sleep apnea, as well as devices designed to help with respiratory problems.
What Is it Like to Work at ResMed?
Workers at ResMed enjoy lucrative salaries. They also receive incentives, including mobile phone discounts and employee development programs. The management is understanding and approachable. This is a dependable company that focuses on creating a supportive environment for its workers.
Top Reasons to Work at ResMed
- Approachable management
- Enticing benefits
- Opportunities for professional development
Aya Healthcare
Established in 2001, Aya Healthcare is the largest travel nurse provider in the United States. They offer software and services to help connect healthcare professionals seeking contingent work with organizations requiring their services. Its platform offers access to a large source of contract clinicians across the US.
What Is it Like to Work at Aya Healthcare?
Aya Healthcare provides its workers with resources such as the Aya Scholars Program, to help them grow. Travel nurses with Aya earn $2,076 weekly, which is 14% above the United States national average. Benefits include 401k matching, unlimited paid time off (PTO), performance bonuses, and maternity and paternity leaves.
Top Reasons to Work at Aya Healthcare
- Unlimited PTO
- Focus on work-life balance
- Flexible work
EAG Laboratories
This company has spent several decades solidifying its status as a pioneer in the field of materials testing. Their services include enhanced SIMs, advanced microscopy, chemical analysis, failure analysis, and electronic reliability testing. Their goal is to lower failure rates in manufacturing across industries.
What Is it Like to Work at EAG Laboratories?
Employees at EAG Laboratories enjoy flexible work schedules, professional growth opportunities, and a positive work environment. Team members are helpful and available to offer advice and support. Benefit packages are diverse and offer medical insurance, life insurance, 401k plans, and dental and vision health plans.
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Top Reasons to Work at EAG Laboratories
- Opportunity to learn
- Supportive team members
- Broad benefits packages
Other Big Companies Headquartered in San Diego
- General Atomics
- Rockstar Games
- Dexcom
- Cubic corporation
- Epic Games
- Seismic
- San Diego Gas & Electric
- Cymer
- Inseego
- TIG
Where to Find a Job in San Diego: Top San Diego Job Boards
Metro San Diego Jobs
To find a job in San Diego, this is a top site to visit. They are devoted to connecting talent and businesses and offer several creative solutions to improve the diversity and growth of the communities they serve.
SanDiegoRecruiter.com
This board is aimed at providing job seekers with employment opportunities. At the time of writing, there are 71,322 jobs in San Diego available on this platform. Founded in 2001, SanDiegoRecruiter.com takes advantage of the technical upsides of national job boards to provide an affordable and effective employment resource.
Indeed
This is one of the most visited job boards across the globe. With 250 million users visiting this site every month, there are a plethora of jobs users can apply to. It also offers skills assessments that employers can include in their job posts.
What Is San Diego’s Tech Scene Like?
There are lots of tech companies in San Diego whose focus includes IT solutions, the Internet of Things, virtual reality, research and development, and consumer electronics. For anyone looking to kick-start or advance their career in tech, this is an ideal city to consider.
Can a Bootcamp Help Me Get a Job With a Top San Diego Employer?
Yes, a bootcamp can help you get a job with a top San Diego employer. Bootcamps provide learners from any background with the tools and knowledge they need to kickstart their careers. They usually provide career services to graduates as well.
Top Coding Bootcamps in San Diego
Why San Diego Is a Great Place to Achieve Your Career Goals
San Diego is a great city that attracts top companies across different industries, including healthcare, technology, and defense. Working in a city that offers diversity and options provides an opportunity to achieve your career goals.
Biggest Companies in San Diego FAQ
San Diego is a city in California. Over the years it has developed into one of the best places to live in the United States.
Yes, you can get a job at Naval Base in San Diego. The base offers employment in different capacities and is the biggest employer in the city.
Yes, there are several top-paying companies based in San Diego where you can secure well-paying jobs. For instance, one of the largest employers in San Diego, Sharp Healthcare, is known for providing great salaries and growth opportunities to its employers.
There are over 85,000 businesses in San Diego. The variety is great, ranging from petroleum-refining companies to packaging companies and pioneers in energy services.
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