Traffic Technicians pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,740 or more. The middle half of traffic technicians in San Diego earn between $59,090 and $85,110.
- $59K10th
- $59K25th
- $85KMedian
- $85K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,710 | $6,309 | $36.40 |
| Median | $85,100 | $7,092 | $40.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,090 | $4,924 | $28.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $85,110 | $7,092 | $40.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Traffic Technicians pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Traffic technicians in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($75,890) and 22% more than the U.S. average ($62,050). At the median the gap is +44% against the U.S. median of $59,090.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $75,710 | $85,100 | $59,090 | $86,740 | 230 |
| California | $75,890 | $79,110 | $52,990 | $97,080 | 1,250 |
| United States | $62,050 | $59,090 | $39,090 | $85,130 | 7,860 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Traffic Technicians salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $75,710, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $59,108 a year, or $4,926 a month and $2,273 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 traffic 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 $75,710 buys what about $67,666 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 12.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Traffic Technicians salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 2nd of 6 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($85,710).
- San Francisco$85,710
- San Diego$75,710
- Santa Maria$74,620
- Los Angeles$74,400
- Bakersfield$68,840
- Riverside$64,640
Highest-paying cities for traffic technicians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($85,710).
- San Francisco, CA$85,710
- San Diego, CA$75,710
- New York, NY$75,280
- Santa Maria, CA$74,620
- Columbus, OH$74,510
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Traffic Technicians salary in San Diego: questions
How much do traffic technicians make an hour in San Diego?
$36.40 an hour on average, and $40.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level traffic technicians salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the traffic technicians take-home pay in San Diego?
About $59,108 a year ($4,926 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,710. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do traffic technicians earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% more than the U.S. average for this job ($62,050).
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 53-6041; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 3.02, this job is 3.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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