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Lighting Technicians Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Lighting Technicians in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA make a median of $60,570 a year, or about $29.12 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $54,854 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 88.1% of take-home, which is tight.

$61K
Median annual
$29.12/hr
Hourly rate
$45K
Entry level (10th %)
$97K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $61K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?

Estimated take-home pay$4,064/mo
Rent (2BR median)-$3,483/mo
Rent as % of take-home85.7% ⚠ above 30% guideline
Groceries-$433/mo
Utilities-$216/mo
Transportation-$380/mo
Healthcare *-$252/mo
Left over-$700/mo

Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.

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About lighting technicians

Education: Bachelor's degree
U.S. employed: 10,130
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA employed: 70
Category: Arts & Media

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Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Bar chart showing Lighting Technicians salary percentiles in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: 10th percentile $45,200, 25th percentile $55,060, median $60,570, 75th percentile $72,580, 90th percentile $97,250. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$45K25th$55KMedian$61K75th$73K90th$97K
Bar chart showing Lighting Technicians salary percentiles in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: 10th percentile $45,200, 25th percentile $55,060, median $60,570, 75th percentile $72,580, 90th percentile $97,250. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level lighting technicians (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.

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Lighting Technicians pay across states

Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure

StateMedian salaryvs. nationalEmployment
Washington$110K+81%70
Hawaii$91K+49%40
New Jersey$83K+38%400
New York$83K+37%910
California$75K+23%3,330
District of Columbia$70K+16%60
Nevada$64K+6%350
Oklahoma$63K+5%50
Massachusetts$62K+2%120
New Hampshire$62K+2%40
New Mexico$61K+1%50
Georgia$59K-3%240
Tennessee$57K-5%410
Pennsylvania$57K-6%260
Michigan$55K-9%N/A
South Carolina$55K-10%40
Texas$54K-11%250
Virginia$52K-14%N/A
Utah$49K-19%140
Maryland$48K-20%220
Illinois$47K-22%230
Kansas$47K-23%70
Nebraska$46K-24%40
Indiana$46K-25%120
Oregon$45K-26%360
Ohio$43K-29%70
Missouri$42K-31%70
Florida$40K-34%1,240
North Carolina$39K-35%70
123

Showing 1–10 of 29 states

BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small

Track lighting technicians salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do lighting technicians make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?

The median is $60,570 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,200, and experienced lighting technicians can clear $97,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $61K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,064/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 85.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.

How far does a lighting technicians salary go in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lighting technicians salary is worth about $54,854 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do lighting technicians get paid the most?

The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.

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