May 2025 OEWS · California
Highest-paying jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
All-occupations median
$51,690
- 10th percentile
- $35,620
- 25th percentile
- $38,840
- Median
- $51,690
- 75th percentile
- $82,590
- 90th percentile
- $131,760
- Mean
- $71,660
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
Employment across all occupations: 200,760.
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for this metro is 108.798, with the United States at 100. Compare prices.
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Highest published annual medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrists | 60 | $108,640 | $333,300 | $435,290 |
| Physicians, All Other | 280 | $131,340 | $296,960 | $434,360 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 440 | $136,400 | $287,230 | $486,820 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 340 | $131,330 | $207,900 | $266,750 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 700 | $130,950 | $207,760 | $282,620 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 30 | $120,620 | $202,030 | $259,690 |
| Chief Executives | 360 | $77,990 | $195,650 | $427,380 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 110 | $107,600 | $175,400 | $289,730 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 70 | $71,400 | $173,640 | $315,550 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | 70 | $89,190 | $171,880 | $255,150 |
| Lawyers | 700 | $73,920 | $170,970 | $289,030 |
| Dentists, General | 140 | $103,610 | $170,940 | $266,910 |
| Marketing Managers | 340 | $94,330 | $170,920 | $299,310 |
| Managers, All Other | 900 | $81,300 | $167,090 | $261,630 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 200 | $130,450 | $165,580 | $220,680 |
| Human Resources Managers | 210 | $94,550 | $165,160 | $274,000 |
| Financial Managers | 760 | $91,990 | $164,270 | $298,410 |
| Pharmacists | 290 | $130,670 | $162,520 | $208,880 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 110 | $129,690 | $161,440 | $200,620 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 360 | $101,370 | $159,950 | $183,290 |
| Database Architects | 40 | $104,170 | $159,240 | $205,310 |
| Veterinarians | 140 | $64,390 | $158,840 | $260,480 |
| Physician Assistants | 210 | $90,310 | $158,360 | $204,280 |
| Software Developers | 1,680 | $99,670 | $158,290 | $215,750 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 150 | $77,320 | $153,950 | $359,180 |
| Fundraising Managers | 80 | $98,070 | $153,940 | $225,850 |
| Public Relations Managers | 40 | $102,850 | $153,010 | $262,660 |
| Commercial Pilots | 60 | $73,190 | $149,200 | $270,020 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 60 | $95,320 | $148,440 | $221,730 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 40 | $71,170 | $145,530 | $337,260 |
| Sales Engineers | 40 | $80,830 | $143,970 | $214,760 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 70 | $87,900 | $142,560 | $165,770 |
| Optometrists | 50 | $102,940 | $140,160 | $165,740 |
| Training and Development Managers | 40 | $92,190 | $140,150 | $211,780 |
| Registered Nurses | 3,280 | $101,260 | $137,360 | $169,240 |
| Engineers, All Other | 460 | $81,660 | $136,650 | $198,080 |
| Dental Hygienists | 260 | $106,210 | $135,990 | $151,030 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 160 | $82,910 | $135,810 | $206,400 |
| Electrical Engineers | 230 | $82,880 | $134,640 | $209,530 |
| Purchasing Managers | 40 | $80,070 | $134,020 | $183,740 |
Occupations with an hourly median only
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | 50 | $19.90 | $35.17 | $75.54 |
Largest occupations
Questions this page answers
What is the median wage in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Across all occupations, the May 2025 median annual wage in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $51,690. Employment is 200,760.
Which published occupation has the highest median in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Psychiatrists has the highest published annual median on this list, $333,300, in the May 2025 OEWS estimates for Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA.