Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in San Diego, CA
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $64,320 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,092 take-home, or $4,258 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,538
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,988
- Medicare (1.45%)$933
- California income tax$1,933
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$836
- Take-home pay$51,092
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,830 | $18.67 | $32,333 | $2,694 |
| 25th percentile | $46,250 | $22.24 | $37,901 | $3,158 |
| Median (50th) | $64,320 | $30.92 | $51,092 | $4,258 |
| 75th percentile | $76,290 | $36.68 | $58,617 | $4,885 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,660 | $41.66 | $64,839 | $5,403 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,320 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $51,092 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,663 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic jobs are less concentrated in San Diego, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #17 of 51 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $77,840 | $59,563 | $53,941 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $72,020 | $56,010 | $52,508 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,530 | $50,453 | $52,047 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $58,700 | $49,345 | $51,221 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $76,030 | $58,458 | $50,564 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $61,510 | $48,881 | $49,950 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $58,190 | $47,138 | $49,573 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $56,150 | $46,535 | $48,743 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $64,320 | $51,092 | $45,663 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 51 metros →
About the job: automotive service technicians and mechanics
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $77,840
- Sacramento, CA — $72,020
- San Francisco, CA — $76,030
- Riverside, CA — $64,210
- Los Angeles, CA — $62,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive service technician and mechanic make in San Diego, CA?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $64,320 a year, or about $30.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,250 and $76,290.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $64,320 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $51,092 a year ($4,258 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,770 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,663 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #17 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median automotive service technician and mechanic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.