CA · Santee · Updated October 15, 2026

CDI Specialist jobs in Santee, CA

Pay for CDI Specialists in the Santee area centers on $40.32 per hour, or about $83,860 a year. The lower quarter earns under $29.40 and the upper quarter over $59.72. That ranks 18th of 133 U.S. metro areas for CDI Specialist pay, and 40th of 129 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 18 hospitals in the Santee metro area. The free report below lists employers near Santee and what they pay.

CDI Specialist pay in Santee, CA

The metro median is 12% below the California statewide median of $45.84 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.36 per hour. BLS counts about 320 health information technologists and medical registrars employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.85).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$25.23$52,48022% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$29.40$61,1509% below U.S. median
Median$40.32$83,86025% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$59.72$124,22085% above U.S. median
Top 10%$76.12$158,330135% above U.S. median

How Santee ranks

  • 18th of 133 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 40th of 129 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 10 California metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for CDI Specialist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars (SOC 29-9021), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Santee

  • Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $40.32 median hour buys what $36.04 buys at the national price level, 11% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Named employers near Santee, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Santee paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,452
  • Per year: $72,576
  • Per month: $6,048

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Open CDI Specialist roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santee as they open.

All CDI Specialist jobs in California

Hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area

CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Va San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, CA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
Encinitas, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Chula Vista, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr
Coronado, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

CDI Specialist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
El Cajon, CA4 mi$40.32/hr103,291
La Mesa, CA6 mi$40.32/hr60,767
Temecula, CA45 mi$36.00/hr112,431

CDI Specialist jobs in California · CDI Specialist jobs nationwide

What employers ask for, and tax basics in California

Clinical documentation integrity specialists review charts and query clinicians so records reflect patient severity accurately.

  • CCDS or CDIP credential, or the ability to earn one
  • Clinical background such as RN, or coding experience
  • Knowledge of DRGs and quality reporting

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Santee

Santee city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do CDI Specialists make in Santee, CA?

CDI Specialists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $40.32 per hour, about $83,860 a year. The middle half earn between $29.40 and $59.72 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Santee a good place for CDI Specialists once cost of living is counted?

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 40th of 129 metro areas for CDI Specialist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 18th of 133 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.

Where do CDI Specialists work in Santee?

CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, led by Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Santee as a CDI Specialist?

CCDS or CDIP credential, or the ability to earn one. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Does Valorem Health place CDI Specialists in Santee?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santee and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santee.

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What do employers near Santee pay CDI Specialists? Get the report.

Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

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  3. 3
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Pay report · CDI near Santee, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CDI pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your California list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Boston Medical CenterRemote, MA · 1 posting$56.69/ hr$38–$75
  • CommonSpirit HealthCHICAGO, IL · 1 posting$51.17/ hr$41–$61
  • Adventist HealthGaithersburg, MD · 1 posting$46.47/ hr$37–$56
  • Capital Health SystemPennington, NJ · 1 posting$45.44/ hr$39–$51

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your California list

2What they are offering now

Low$48Median$63.17High$97

3 CDI postings with published pay in California, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 3 CDI roles

  1. Clinical Documentation SpecialistPermanent
    $47.90–$71.84/ hour
    San Antonio Regional Hospital · Upland, CA · posted 2 days ago
  2. Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist - Full Time (On-Site) - Days - 8hr QVHPermanent
    $49.55–$76.80/ hour
    Emanate Health · West Covina, CA · posted 10 days ago

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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