Parking Attendant Salary in San Diego, CA
Parking Attendants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $37,960 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,680 take-home, or $2,640 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median parking attendant salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,375
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,354
- Medicare (1.45%)$550
- California income tax$508
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$493
- Take-home pay$31,680
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Parking Attendant pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,940 | $17.28 | $30,164 | $2,514 |
| 25th percentile | $37,610 | $18.08 | $31,417 | $2,618 |
| Median (50th) | $37,960 | $18.25 | $31,680 | $2,640 |
| 75th percentile | $44,630 | $21.46 | $36,685 | $3,057 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,910 | $25.92 | $43,512 | $3,626 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,960 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 parking attendant's $31,680 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,314 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 2.4× the national concentration of parking attendant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for parking attendants, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #4 of 16 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $44,480 | $36,573 | $31,634 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $37,810 | $30,834 | $29,764 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,100 | $29,714 | $28,760 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $37,960 | $31,680 | $28,314 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $36,930 | $30,803 | $28,290 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $37,360 | $30,551 | $28,218 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $31,120 | $27,185 | $27,563 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,280 | $31,169 | $27,446 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 16 metros →
About the job: parking attendants
Park vehicles or issue tickets for customers in a parking lot or garage. May park or tend vehicles in environments such as a car dealership or rental car facility. May collect fee.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Parking Attendant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $44,480
- Los Angeles, CA — $37,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a parking attendant make in San Diego, CA?
The median parking attendant salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $37,960 a year, or about $18.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,610 and $44,630.
What is a parking attendant’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $37,960 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,680 a year ($2,640 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,001 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a parking attendant?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,150. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,314 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #4 of 16 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a parking attendant 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) — 93% of a median parking attendant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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