Auto body technician salary in California

Auto body technicians in California earn a median $66,860 a year. That's 22% above the national median, ranking California #2 of 50 states.

Median pay
$66,860
Median hourly
$32.14
Typical range
$41,910–$97,480
Jobs
14,050

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for auto body technicians in California
PercentileAnnual payU.S.
10th (entry level)$41,910$36,910
25th$52,040$45,750
Median$66,860$54,890
75th$78,200$69,200
90th (top earners)$97,480$87,940

Pay in California metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$67,0904,270
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$76,7402,680

Compare other states

  1. 1Rhode Island$72,490
  2. 2California$66,860
  3. –District of Columbia$62,640
  4. 3New Jersey$62,400
  5. 4Alaska$61,680
  6. 5Minnesota$60,970
  7. 6Hawaii$60,540
  8. 7Missouri$60,540
  9. 8Nevada$60,520
  10. 9Oregon$60,000
  11. 10Colorado$59,880
  12. 11Massachusetts$59,300
  13. 12Washington$58,340
  14. 13Connecticut$58,220
  15. 14Virginia$57,760
  16. 15Montana$57,500
  17. 16Michigan$56,880
  18. 17Wisconsin$56,660
  19. 18Maryland$56,100
  20. 19North Dakota$55,160
  21. 20Arizona$54,510
  22. 21Nebraska$54,130
  23. 22Pennsylvania$53,660
  24. 23South Carolina$53,290
  25. 24New Hampshire$52,790
  26. 25Alabama$52,040
  27. 26Illinois$52,020
  28. 27Texas$51,700
  29. 28Georgia$51,190
  30. 29Indiana$51,160
  31. 30Vermont$50,900
  32. 31North Carolina$50,520
  33. 32Maine$50,350
  34. 33Utah$50,200
  35. 34Mississippi$49,500
  36. 35South Dakota$49,460
  37. 36Iowa$49,400
  38. 37Arkansas$49,310
  39. 38Idaho$49,200
  40. 39Wyoming$49,200
  41. 40Ohio$49,080
  42. 41Kansas$48,920
  43. 42Oklahoma$48,810
  44. 43Delaware$48,780
  45. 44Florida$48,600
  46. 45New Mexico$48,260
  47. 46New York$47,670
  48. 47Tennessee$47,460
  49. 48Louisiana$47,150
  50. 49West Virginia$47,090
  51. 50Kentucky$46,080
  52. –Puerto Rico$30,260

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools in California.

Auto body schools in CaliforniaHow to become an auto body technician

Frequently asked questions

How much do auto body technicians make in California?

The median pay for auto body technicians in California is $66,860 a year ($32.14 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,910, and the top 10% earn over $97,480.

Is California a good state for auto body technicians?

California ranks #2 of 50 states for median auto body technician pay, 22% above the national median of $54,890. Living costs vary a lot by state, so compare pay with local housing costs.

How can an auto body technician earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become an auto body technician covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers, SOC 49-3021). Figures exclude self-employed workers.