How to Become A Maintenance Technician in California
California employs approximately 143,060 maintenance technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,000 1. Nationally, maintenance technician employment is projected to grow 3.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 159,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a maintenance technician in California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Maintenance Technician in California
How do I become a maintenance technician in California? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for maintenance technicians in California.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
What do maintenance technicians earn in California? The median annual wage for maintenance technicians in California is $57,000 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,810 and experienced professionals can earn $82,710 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Median wage (California): $57,000 per year 1
Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Information in California
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. California’s apprenticeship program is administered by the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship 3.
Contact Information:
- Office: California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Fresno Region
- Phone: (559) 445-5431
- Email: [email protected]
Maintenance Technician Wages by Metro Area in California
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), maintenance and repair workers, general wages in California vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 47,890 | $56,520 | $58,390 | $38,510 | $79,360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 18,550 | $63,630 | $69,420 | $45,970 | $98,140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 13,720 | $53,560 | $57,510 | $37,840 | $80,870 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 12,350 | $54,530 | $58,010 | $38,060 | $79,520 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 7,980 | $56,570 | $57,580 | $37,460 | $79,920 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 7,750 | $63,220 | $69,440 | $46,680 | $99,430 |
| Fresno | 3,590 | $51,450 | $54,790 | $35,880 | $77,320 |
| Stockton-Lodi | 2,740 | $59,590 | $61,810 | $39,950 | $83,230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | 2,700 | $54,570 | $57,560 | $38,210 | $79,460 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | 2,490 | $50,800 | $57,240 | $36,940 | $81,490 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | 1,980 | $52,780 | $57,030 | $38,280 | $79,150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | 1,930 | $58,170 | $61,330 | $42,230 | $83,870 |
| Modesto | 1,660 | $59,650 | $61,030 | $40,320 | $82,100 |
| Salinas | 1,550 | $50,760 | $56,090 | $37,070 | $79,110 |
| Visalia | 1,450 | $50,580 | $54,420 | $36,090 | $78,400 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | 1,280 | $49,400 | $54,980 | $36,570 | $78,090 |
| Vallejo | 1,190 | $61,400 | $65,110 | $42,160 | $92,890 |
| Merced | 930 | $56,700 | $57,240 | $36,400 | $78,310 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | 880 | $50,000 | $55,660 | $38,470 | $79,110 |
| Napa | 830 | $61,860 | $64,900 | $44,920 | $88,850 |
| Chico | 720 | $52,040 | $56,820 | $37,340 | $80,440 |
| Redding | 690 | $47,820 | $53,620 | $36,980 | $79,080 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | 520 | $59,200 | $59,060 | $41,380 | $80,800 |
| El Centro | 500 | $47,870 | $53,330 | $36,590 | $75,120 |
| Yuba City | 380 | $55,100 | $56,560 | $38,030 | $76,820 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Top Metros for Maintenance technicians in California
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest maintenance technician employment within California according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 47,890 | $56,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 18,550 | $63,630 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 13,720 | $53,560 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 12,350 | $54,530 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 7,980 | $56,570 |
Explore maintenance technician programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Riverside.
Explore More Trades in California
- Electrician in California
- Plumber in California
- HVAC Technician in California
- Welder in California
- Carpenter in California
- Solar Installation Technician in California
- Auto Mechanic in California
- CNC Machinist in California
- Certified Nursing Assistant in California
- Medical Assistant in California
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for maintenance technicians in California? California currently employs approximately 143,060 maintenance technicians 1. Nationally, maintenance technician employment is projected to grow 3.8% from 2024 to 2034 2.
What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in California. You can also contact the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do maintenance technicians earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for maintenance technicians in California is $57,000, which is $8,380 above the national median of $48,620 according to BLS data 1.
Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/aigstart.asp ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |