Counter and Rental Clerk Salary in San Diego, CA
Counter and Rental Clerks in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $42,600 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,162 take-home, or $2,930 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median counter and rental clerk salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,932
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,641
- Medicare (1.45%)$618
- California income tax$693
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$554
- Take-home pay$35,162
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Counter and Rental Clerk pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,180 | $17.39 | $30,344 | $2,529 |
| 25th percentile | $37,640 | $18.10 | $31,439 | $2,620 |
| Median (50th) | $42,600 | $20.48 | $35,162 | $2,930 |
| 75th percentile | $49,350 | $23.73 | $40,181 | $3,348 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,980 | $33.16 | $54,154 | $4,513 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,600 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 counter and rental clerk's $35,162 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,426 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 1.5× the national concentration of counter and rental clerk jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for counter and rental clerks, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #30 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, VA | $46,520 | $37,698 | $38,523 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $49,350 | $41,833 | $37,642 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $46,900 | $38,509 | $36,404 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,310 | $37,196 | $36,269 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $44,760 | $37,234 | $36,039 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $48,570 | $39,611 | $35,872 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $48,010 | $39,041 | $35,856 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $39,890 | $34,232 | $35,533 |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $42,600 | $35,162 | $31,426 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →
About the job: counter and rental clerks
Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.0% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Counter and Rental Clerk salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $48,570
- Sacramento, CA — $45,120
- San Francisco, CA — $47,740
- Riverside, CA — $43,130
- Los Angeles, CA — $44,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a counter and rental clerk make in San Diego, CA?
The median counter and rental clerk salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $42,600 a year, or about $20.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,640 and $49,350.
What is a counter and rental clerk’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $42,600 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,162 a year ($2,930 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,247 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a counter and rental clerk?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $41,300. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,426 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #30 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a counter and rental clerk 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) — 84% of a median counter and rental clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Insurance Sales Agent — $77,020
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $76,180
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $76,100
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $74,610
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $56,300
- Retail Salesperson — $37,810
- Cashier — $37,020