Tire Builder salary in California
Tire Builders in California earn a median of $44,790 a year ($21.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,610 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $57,390. California ranks 17th of 20 states for tire builders pay. There are 0.02 tire builders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.15). The average (mean) salary is $44,640, close to the median.
Pay range for tire builders in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,830 | $18.19 |
| 25th percentile | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Median | $44,790 | $21.54 |
| 75th percentile | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Average (mean) | $44,640 | $21.46 |
Half of tire builders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,732.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,866.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,722.69 |
| Weekly | $861.35 |
| Hourly | $21.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for tire builders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee | $74,100 |
| North Carolina | $63,950 |
| Illinois | $59,830 |
| Ohio | $56,370 |
| Texas | $54,880 |
| Mississippi | $53,050 |
| Indiana | $51,170 |
| Iowa | $50,600 |
| Connecticut | $48,630 |
| Oregon | $48,380 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $47,410 | $22.80 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $49,190 | $23.65 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9197. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tire builder make in California?
The median salary for tire builders in California is $44,790 a year, or $21.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tire builders make in California?
The top 10% of tire builders in California earn at least $49,610 a year. The top 25% earn $47,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for tire builders in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,830 a year, and a quarter of tire builders earn $38,600 or less.
How many tire builders work in California?
About 360 tire builders are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.