Lighting Technicians · California

Lighting Technicians Salary in California

Lighting Technicians in California earn a median annual wage of $94,070 —38.2% above the national median of $68,060. That ranks CA #2 of 27 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$94,070
Median hourly
$45.22
Entry level (P10)
$50,910
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$159,610
90th percentile
Employment
2,950
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+38.2%
U.S. $68,060

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$50,910
$61,040
$94,070
$109,560
$50,910$94,070$159,610
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $94,070.

Employment is 2.83× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for lighting technicians

All 27 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$126,100$60.63800.40
2California$94,070$45.222,9502.83
3New Jersey$87,550$42.093401.39
4New York$78,000$37.507801.41
5Connecticut$72,450$34.83800.81
6Georgia$70,150$33.732600.94
7Oklahoma$67,110$32.27600.58
8Louisiana$66,840$32.14400.40
9Florida$62,190$29.906001.05
10Nevada$61,250$29.453904.44

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$85,030$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$47,660$47,320
Graphic Designers$75,130$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010$39,390
Producers and Directors$129,790$90,360
Editors$98,030$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do lighting technicians make in California?

The median annual wage for lighting technicians in California is $94,070, or $45.22 per hour. That is 38.2% above the national median of $68,060.

What is the entry-level lighting technicians salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $50,910 per year ($24.48/hour). The 25th percentile is $61,040.

How many people work as lighting technicians in California?

About 2,950 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for lighting technicians?

California ranks #2 of 27 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 2.83x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays lighting technicians the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $126,100 per year, followed by California ($94,070) and New Jersey ($87,550).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes