Lighting Technicians pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,360 or more. The middle half of lighting technicians in San Diego earn between $49,760 and $65,160.
- $41K10th
- $50K25th
- $61KMedian
- $65K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,460 | $5,122 | $29.55 |
| Median | $61,040 | $5,087 | $29.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,760 | $4,147 | $23.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,160 | $5,430 | $31.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lighting Technicians pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Lighting technicians in San Diego earn 34% less than the California average ($93,240) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($78,380). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $68,060.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $61,460 | $61,040 | $40,690 | $82,360 | 130 |
| California | $93,240 | $94,070 | $50,910 | $159,610 | 2,950 |
| United States | $78,380 | $68,060 | $42,310 | $130,760 | 8,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lighting Technicians salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $61,460, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $49,683 a year, or $4,140 a month and $1,911 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for lighting technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $61,460 buys what about $54,930 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 15.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Lighting Technicians salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 4th of 6 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($101,180).
- Los Angeles$101,180
- San Francisco$89,610
- San Jose$80,480
- San Diego$61,460
- Riverside$59,170
- Sacramento$57,580
Highest-paying cities for lighting technicians
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($131,060).
- Seattle, WA$131,060
- Los Angeles, CA$101,180
- New York, NY$92,420
- San Francisco, CA$89,610
- Nashville, TN$85,710
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Lighting Technicians salary in San Diego: questions
How much do lighting technicians make an hour in San Diego?
$29.55 an hour on average, and $29.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lighting technicians salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lighting technicians take-home pay in San Diego?
About $49,683 a year ($4,140 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,460. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do lighting technicians earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($78,380).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-4015; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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