Where do aerospace and defence occupiers lease office space in San Diego?

Most cluster in Downtown. Rent runs ~56 USD/sqft ($56 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do aerospace and defence occupiers run in San Diego?

Typically high-end at $185–270/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a aerospace and defence occupier plan in San Diego?

Plan ~210 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,000 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the aerospace and defence vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 3364, 5415.

What is the talent index in San Diego?

86/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Aerospace and defence occupiers in San Diego typically cluster in Downtown, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($185–270/sqft), and pay around 56 USD/sqft ($56 USD) on Class A.

Preferred submarket: Downtown.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($185–270/sqft).
Plan ~210 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 56 USD/sqft ($56 USD).
Typical lease: 10 years with 12 months rent-free.
Talent depth in San Diego: 86/100.

Aerospace and defence office space in San Diego

Aerospace and defence occupiers in San Diego typically cluster in Downtown, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($185–270/sqft), and pay around 56 USD/sqft ($56 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

Preferred submarket: Downtown.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($185–270/sqft).
Plan ~210 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 56 USD/sqft ($56 USD).
Typical lease: 10 years with 12 months rent-free.
Talent depth in San Diego: 86/100.

Where they cluster

Aerospace and defence occupiers in San Diego typically anchor in Downtown. Banking, law, professional services, hospitality HQs.

What they pay

Class A rent in San Diego runs 56 USD/sqft ($56 USD) on a 10-year lease with 12 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical aerospace and defence fit-out targets high-end specification at $185–270/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 210 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount aero/defence office in San Diego typically targets 21,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Programme leadership and contracting teams concentrate near government anchors; cleared-personnel logistics drive submarket selection. Deep life sciences, biotech, defense, and intelligence talent. UCSD and the Salk / Scripps research cluster anchor. Deep naval and Marine veteran talent pool.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 27.9%. Modified-gross structures with opex pass-throughs. 10-12 year terms common for life sciences. Free rent of 10-14 months and TI of $100-$160/sqft typical on a 10-year Class A deal; lab fitouts run materially higher.

Key facts

city	San Diego
industry	Aerospace and defence
naics	3364, 5415
preferredSubmarket	Downtown
preferredFitoutSpec	High-end
fitoutBand	$185–270/sqft
sqftPerSeat	210
classARentLocal	56 USD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$56/sqft/yr
vacancyPct	18.4%
typicalLeaseYears	10
typicalRentFreeMonths	12
talentIndex	86
corporateTaxPct	27.9%

Frequently asked questions

Where do aerospace and defence occupiers lease office space in San Diego?: Most cluster in Downtown. Rent runs ~56 USD/sqft ($56 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do aerospace and defence occupiers run in San Diego?: Typically high-end at $185–270/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a aerospace and defence occupier plan in San Diego?: Plan ~210 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,000 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the aerospace and defence vertical?: Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 3364, 5415.
What is the talent index in San Diego?: 86/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction