Lighting Technician Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Lighting Technicians in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $105,010 a year — 54% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,803 take-home, or $6,317 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lighting technician salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,272
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,511
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,523
- California income tax$5,536
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,365
- Take-home pay$75,803
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Lighting Technician pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,300 | $25.14 | $42,336 | $3,528 |
| 25th percentile | $78,770 | $37.87 | $60,125 | $5,010 |
| Median (50th) | $105,010 | $50.49 | $75,803 | $6,317 |
| 75th percentile | $109,560 | $52.67 | $78,522 | $6,543 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,510 | $77.17 | $108,190 | $9,016 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,010 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lighting technician's $75,803 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,748 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 5.7× the national concentration of lighting technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lighting technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,010 | $75,803 | $66,748 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $87,510 | $66,265 | $58,869 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lighting technician make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median lighting technician salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $105,010 a year, or about $50.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,770 and $109,560.
What is a lighting technician’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $105,010 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $75,803 a year ($6,317 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,901 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a lighting technician?
Pay here is 54% above the national median of $68,060. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,748 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lighting technician afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median lighting technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
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- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Set and Exhibit Designer — $106,880
- Technical Writer — $104,000
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
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- Film and Video Editor — $83,210
- Interior Designer — $80,000