Biological Technicians pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,630 or more. The middle half of biological technicians in Santa Maria earn between $55,650 and $75,970.
- $46K10th
- $56K25th
- $66KMedian
- $76K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,720 | $5,560 | $32.08 |
| Median | $66,110 | $5,509 | $31.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,650 | $4,638 | $26.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,970 | $6,331 | $36.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Biological Technicians pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Biological technicians in Santa Maria earn 15% less than the California average ($78,170) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($61,380). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $57,510.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $66,720 | $66,110 | $46,470 | $88,630 | 70 |
| California | $78,170 | $71,440 | $46,700 | $121,670 | 9,210 |
| United States | $61,380 | $57,510 | $40,330 | $84,940 | 69,620 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Biological Technicians salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $66,720, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $53,502 a year, or $4,459 a month and $2,058 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Maria a good place for biological technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Maria area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.8), so the average $66,720 buys what about $61,325 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Biological Technicians salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 8th of 14 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($99,540).
- San Francisco$99,540
- San Jose$78,870
- Los Angeles$71,110
- San Diego$69,330
- Sacramento$69,100
- Vallejo$67,380
- Santa Cruz$66,730
- Santa Maria$66,720
- Riverside$65,480
- Salinas$63,090
Highest-paying cities for biological technicians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($99,540).
- San Francisco, CA$99,540
- San Jose, CA$78,870
- Boulder, CO$78,260
- Trenton, NJ$74,720
- Los Angeles, CA$71,110
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Biological Technicians salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do biological technicians make an hour in Santa Maria?
$32.08 an hour on average, and $31.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level biological technicians salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the biological technicians take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $53,502 a year ($4,459 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,720. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do biological technicians earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($61,380).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4021; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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