Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment Salary in San Diego, CA
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $37,120 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,049 take-home, or $2,587 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,274
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,301
- Medicare (1.45%)$538
- California income tax$474
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$483
- Take-home pay$31,049
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,750 | $17.19 | $30,021 | $2,502 |
| 25th percentile | $36,160 | $17.38 | $30,329 | $2,527 |
| Median (50th) | $37,120 | $17.85 | $31,049 | $2,587 |
| 75th percentile | $42,070 | $20.23 | $34,764 | $2,897 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,640 | $22.90 | $38,932 | $3,244 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,120 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 cleaner of vehicles and equipment's $31,049 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,751 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for cleaners of vehicles and equipment, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #25 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,680 | $31,426 | $32,952 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | $36,760 | $31,717 | $32,922 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $41,600 | $34,484 | $32,599 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,500 | $30,510 | $32,484 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $35,480 | $29,958 | $32,372 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $44,350 | $36,475 | $31,550 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $35,220 | $29,761 | $31,299 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $37,120 | $31,049 | $27,751 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
About the job: cleaners of vehicles and equipment
Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.9% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $44,350
- Sacramento, CA — $37,700
- Riverside, CA — $36,230
- Los Angeles, CA — $37,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cleaner of vehicles and equipment make in San Diego, CA?
The median cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $37,120 a year, or about $17.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,160 and $42,070.
What is a cleaner of vehicles and equipment’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $37,120 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,049 a year ($2,587 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $957 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a cleaner of vehicles and equipment?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,830. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,751 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #25 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cleaner of vehicles and equipment 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) — 95% of a median cleaner of vehicles and equipment’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
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- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,780
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,370
- Light Truck Driver — $45,670
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $43,670
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,320
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,160
- Parking Attendant — $37,960
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,890