IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This guide provides general information about employment opportunities in the state or jurisdiction covered by this guide. While we strive for accuracy, hiring policies change frequently. Always verify current hiring practices directly with employers. Individual results vary based on offense type, time since conviction, and specific job requirements. This is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance on your specific situation.
Felon Friendly Jobs in San Diego, CA
2026 Employers, Free Reentry Help and Record Clearing
November 3, 2026
Looking for felon friendly jobs in San Diego? Education and health services is San Diego County's largest private job sector, with about 269,000 jobs in mid-2025, and government is close behind. The military is a major part of the economy: a 2025 report put defense at about 22% of the regional economy, supporting nearly 357,000 local jobs. Hiring decisions are made case by case, so always check the current job posting for the role and location you want. Last reviewed November 2026.
Employers hiring in the San Diego area
UC San Diego is one of the region's biggest employers, and Sharp HealthCare, the County and City of San Diego, and General Atomics are among the other large local employers. The national employers below hire across the metro; start with our guides, then search each careers site for openings near you.
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Free job and reentry help in San Diego
San Diego Workforce Partnership Career Centers (America's Job Center of California): Free career centers for county residents 14 and older, regardless of background, with job placement, paid internships, workshops, training scholarships and career coaching. Call (619) 319-9675.
Reentry Works (San Diego Workforce Partnership): Job help for adults with justice involvement, including training, paid earn-and-learn spots and support with transportation and housing, plus career centers inside two county jail facilities. Currently referral only. Call (619) 319-9675.
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) San Diego: Paid transitional jobs from the day you enroll, job readiness training, certifications, application help and support after you're hired. Referrals go to referralssd@ceoworks.org.
San Diego Public Defender Fresh Start Program: Free record clearing help from Public Defender attorneys, who review your record and explain your options. Email a Request for Assistance form to Fresh.Start@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Clearing your record in California
California has several ways to clear or reduce a record:
Most people can ask the court to dismiss a conviction under Penal Code 1203.4, often called expungement, using form CR-180. Since January 1, 2023, you can also ask to dismiss a state prison felony 2 years after finishing your sentence, and the judge decides. Old drug possession and theft convictions of $950 or less from before November 2014 may be reduced under Prop 47, and that filing deadline has been removed.
Some relief is automatic. Each month the California Department of Justice reviews records and marks eligible arrests (PC 851.93) and convictions (PC 1203.425) as relieved. Misdemeanors generally qualify after probation or 1 year; most felonies qualify 4 years after all supervision ends with no new felony. You won't get a notice, so request your own record from DOJ to check.
Automatic relief isn't open to people who must register as a sex offender, and serious and violent felonies are left out of the 4-year felony track. A pending case or current probation or parole blocks dismissal. Relief doesn't erase the record: peace officer jobs, public office and some school and health care jobs can still see or consider it.
For older felonies, a Certificate of Rehabilitation is another path; you usually need 5 years living in California and 7 to 10 years total after release. For free help in San Diego County, email the Public Defender's Fresh Start Program at Fresh.Start@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Your rights when applying in San Diego
California's Fair Chance Act covers employers with 5 or more employees. They can't ask about convictions until after a conditional job offer, and they can't consider convictions that were dismissed, sealed or expunged. Some jobs are exempt, such as jobs where another law requires a background check.
San Diego County's Fair Chance Ordinance (in effect since October 10, 2024) covers employers with 5 or more employees for jobs in unincorporated areas only, and requires a written individualized assessment. In the City of San Diego and other cities, the state law applies.
Before pulling an offer, an employer must assess your situation individually and send a written notice that names the conviction and includes a copy of any report. You get at least 5 business days to respond (5 more if you dispute the report and are getting proof), and you can send evidence of rehabilitation. A final notice must tell you about your right to complain to the Civil Rights Department (CRD).
To complain, file with CRD within 3 years at ccrs.calcivilrights.ca.gov or 800-884-1684. For jobs in unincorporated San Diego County, you can also contact the county Office of Labor Standards & Enforcement within 1 year at 619-531-5129.
The Federal Bonding Program gives employers a free $5,000 bond covering your first 6 months on the job; ask at any America's Job Center of California. The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025, and EDD is holding applications until Congress acts.
Next steps
Sources
This page is for general information and is not legal advice. Employer policies and laws change; confirm details with the employer or a legal aid organization before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an employer in San Diego ask about my record on a job application?
Usually not. Under state law, employers with 5 or more employees must wait until after a conditional job offer to ask about convictions.
Does San Diego have its own fair chance law?
San Diego County has one, but it covers only jobs in unincorporated areas. In the City of San Diego and other cities, the state Fair Chance Act protects you.
What happens if a background check finds my record after I get an offer?
The employer must look at your situation individually. If it leans toward pulling the offer, it must send you a written notice with a copy of the report, and you get at least 5 business days to respond, plus 5 more if you dispute the report and are getting proof.
What can I send to show I've changed?
You can send proof the report is wrong, plus things like school or training records, counseling, work history, community service and proof you finished probation or parole. The employer must consider what you send.
Do I have to tell an employer about a dismissed conviction?
Most employers can't ask about or consider convictions that were dismissed, sealed or expunged. Some jobs, like law enforcement, public office and some school or health care jobs, can still look at them, so a legal aid office can tell you what applies to you.
Was my record cleared automatically?
It might be. The California Department of Justice reviews records each month and marks eligible arrests and convictions, but it doesn't send notices. You can request your own record from DOJ to check.
Where can I get free help clearing my record in San Diego?
The San Diego Public Defender's Fresh Start Program offers free record reviews and advice. Email a request form to Fresh.Start@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Where can I get free job help in San Diego?
San Diego Workforce Partnership career centers are free; call (619) 319-9675. Reentry Works and CEO San Diego focus on people with justice involvement.
Where do I report a Fair Chance violation?
File with the California Civil Rights Department within 3 years. For jobs in unincorporated San Diego County, you can also file with the county Office of Labor Standards & Enforcement within 1 year.
Can an employer still get a tax credit or bond for hiring me?
The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025, and isn't available right now. The Federal Bonding Program still offers employers a free $5,000 bond for your first 6 months, through an America's Job Center of California.