Lighting Technicians pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $138,520 or more. The middle half of lighting technicians in San Francisco earn between $67,550 and $103,530.
- $55K10th
- $68K25th
- $74KMedian
- $104K75th
- $139K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,610 | $7,468 | $43.08 |
| Median | $74,000 | $6,167 | $35.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,550 | $5,629 | $32.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,530 | $8,628 | $49.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lighting Technicians pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Lighting technicians in San Francisco earn 4% less than the California average ($93,240) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($78,380). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $68,060.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $89,610 | $74,000 | $55,290 | $138,520 | 320 |
| 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 Francisco
On the average salary of $89,610, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $67,629 a year, or $5,636 a month and $2,601 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 Francisco a good place for lighting technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $89,610 buys what about $77,509 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 12.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Lighting Technicians salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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 Francisco: questions
How much do lighting technicians make an hour in San Francisco?
$43.08 an hour on average, and $35.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lighting technicians salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lighting technicians take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $67,629 a year ($5,636 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,610. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do lighting technicians earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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 2.36, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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