Educational Services · San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), San Diego State University has a mixed safety record: 6 violations across 3 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Top 10% by penalty50% serious
$35,135
OSHA penalties
6
Violations cited
3
OSHA inspections
$2,833
Back wages owed

San Diego State University in San Diego, CA has been the subject of 3 OSHA workplace inspections and 6 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $35,135. Federal wage-and-hour enforcement records also show 1 WHD violation against this employer under the Fair Labor Standards Act. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected San Diego State University 3 times over 5 years, roughly once every couple of years. These inspections resulted in 6 violations, averaging 2.0 per inspection, above what's typical for a single visit. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in the top 10% of penalized employers nationally. Of these, 3 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Educational Services industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this sits roughly in line with peers (1.2x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $2,833 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker. For comparison, St. Andrews Christian School in Whittier, CA is another educational services employer with 0 OSHA inspections on record and $0 in current penalties.

2.0
violations per inspection
50.0%
of violations were serious
92%
of penalized employers rank lower
$2,833
in back wages recovered

How San Diego State University compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Educational Services per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows San Diego State University runs far above peers (11.7x the sector average) in total OSHA penalties.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

Where this penalty ranks nationally

Total current OSHA penalty vs every U.S. employer with a nonzero penalty

$35,135 Bottom 8% least affordable more affordable than 8% of 100,495 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 44,435 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 20,628 U.S. employers with a penalty (21%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,165 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,629 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,205 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,885 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,052 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,483 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$45,000: 1,120 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 792 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,101 U.S. employers with a penalty (5%). Above this entry. This employer $0 $55,000 every penalized U.S. employer, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. employers with a penalty. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts · 2026

What the Data Says About San Diego State University

The federal enforcement record for San Diego State University in San Diego, CA includes 3 OSHA inspections and 6 violations, translating to 2.00 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 3 (50.0%) were classified as serious, 0 (0.0%) as willful, and 0 (0.0%) as repeat. Serious violations denote hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm; willful and repeat categories indicate intentional disregard or recurrence of previously cited hazards.

OSHA assessed $35,135 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $35,135 - no reduction from the original assessment. Average penalty per inspection works out to $11,712. Against the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer, this record runs far above peers (11.7x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $2,833 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker.

Inspection activity spans from 2020-07-09 to 2025-08-29, a window of roughly 5 years.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

3

First Inspection

2020-07-09

Last Inspection

2025-08-29

Inspection Span

5 yrs

Violations / Inspection

2.0

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$11,712

Industry Avg / Inspection

$1,198

What this shows 3 inspections over 5 years, averaging 2.0 violations per visit. That's $11,712 per inspection vs. the Educational Services average of $1,198.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

3

Serious

50.0% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

3

Other-Than-Serious

50.0% of total

What this shows Serious violations involve hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate intentional or knowing disregard of the law. Repeat violations are for hazards previously cited within the past 5 years.

Enforcement detail

Penalty Analysis

Initial Penalty Assessed

$35,135

Current Penalty Amount

$35,135

Penalty Reduction

None

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$37,968

What this shows No reduction on record. The current penalty matches the original OSHA assessment.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$2,833
Employees Affected
1
WHD Violations
1
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$2,833
Avg Back Wages per Case
$2,833

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that San Diego State University owed $2,833 in back wages to 1 employee across 1 case and 1 violation. WHD enforces federal labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covering minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.

Industry Safety Context: Educational Services

How San Diego State University compares to the Educational Services sector, which has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric San Diego State University Industry Avg
Inspections 3 2.5
Violations 6 5.7
Total Penalty $35,135 $3,013
Avg Penalty per Inspection $11,712 $1,198

Nearby & Similar Employers in Educational Services

Compare San Diego State University vs Sussex Middle School side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego State University safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, San Diego State University's workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 6 violations across 3 inspections, including 3 serious violations. Compared to Educational Services industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does San Diego State University have?
San Diego State University has 6 OSHA violations on record, including 3 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $35,135.
How many OSHA inspections has San Diego State University had?
San Diego State University has had 3 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2020-07-09 and the most recent on 2025-08-29. This averages 2.0 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for San Diego State University?
San Diego State University has been assessed $35,135 in current OSHA penalties. Additionally, $2,833 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does San Diego State University have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. San Diego State University has 3 serious violations. Serious violations involve hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate the employer intentionally or knowingly disregarded the law.
Has San Diego State University been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against San Diego State University, resulting in $2,833 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does San Diego State University operate in?
San Diego State University operates in the Educational Services sector (NAICS code 611310). This industry has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 8,044 total OSHA inspections and $9.64M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if San Diego State University owes me wages?
If you believe San Diego State University owes you wages, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints or by calling 1-866-487-9243. WHD investigates violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act including unpaid minimum wage, overtime, and unauthorized deductions. The DOL has previously found $2,833 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
How does San Diego State University's safety record compare to industry average?
San Diego State University's total OSHA penalty of $35,135 is above the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer (11.7x the average). The employer has 3 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer. For a direct comparison, St. Andrews Christian School in Whittier, CA is a similar educational services employer with $0 in current penalties.

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What to check next

San Diego State University's record is one establishment in a larger pattern. Use it as a research checklist, not a verdict on the employer overall.

These figures are the federal enforcement record on file and reflect past inspections, not a statement about current workplace conditions. See the disclaimer for how to read them.

Data Sources & Methodology

Data as of 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA, WHD).

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data

Inspection and violation records from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, covering the period 2010–2026. Includes inspection dates, violation types (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious), and penalty amounts. Penalties shown are current assessed amounts and may differ from original citations due to settlement, contest, or reduction.

Source: Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Compliance actions from the WHD, covering enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including minimum wage, overtime, and child labor violations. Back wages represent amounts owed to affected employees as determined by WHD investigations.

Employer Matching

Employers are matched across OSHA and WHD datasets by name, state, and city. Employers included in PlainWorker have 2 or more OSHA inspections or $1,000+ in WHD back wages. Data is updated monthly from data.dol.gov.

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Every figure on PlainWorker is rendered directly from official U.S. Department of Labor OSHA and Wage & Hour Division enforcement records, no number is typed in by an editor. This employer's ratios (penalty-per-violation, industry comparisons) are computed live from the 3 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.