How much does a motor vehicle operator make in San Diego?
$47,770a year
Median yearly pay for motor vehicle operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $22.97 an hour or $3,981 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.97
- Vs. national median
- +28%
- Rank among cities
- 25 of 168
- Jobs in the area
- 340
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,780Median: $47,770Highest 10%: $68,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,780 | $18.16 | |
| 25th | $38,450 | $18.49 | |
| Median | $47,770 | $22.97 | |
| 75th | $64,380 | $30.95 | |
| 90th | $68,600 | $32.98 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for motor vehicle operators.
| Vallejo, CA | $73,280 |
| Salinas, CA | $71,140 |
| Stockton, CA | $62,460 |
| San Francisco, CA | $50,140 |
| San Jose, CA | $48,230 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $47,870 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,290 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $44,180 |
| Sacramento, CA | $43,730 |
| Fresno, CA | $42,420 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,150 |
| Oxnard, CA | $41,360 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $39,760 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $322,000 |
| Commercial Pilot | $128,100 |
| Ship Engineer | $85,310 |
| Traffic Technician | $85,100 |
| Transportation Inspector | $83,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $79,720 |
| Captain | $76,490 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor | $74,590 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $69,300 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $63,550 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a motor vehicle operator make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $22.97 ($47,770 a year).
Do motor vehicle operators make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $47,770 against $37,180 nationally, 28% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $45,050, so San Diego pays 6% more.
Where does San Diego rank for motor vehicle operator pay?
25 of 168 metro areas with data.
How much does a motor vehicle operator make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,780 or less a year; the top 10% make $68,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.