SOC 25-1032 · Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Santa Maria, CA

The average salary for engineering teachers, postsecondary in Santa Maria, California is $132,610 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $128,440: half of the 90 people in this job in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($124,520).

$132,610average per year

Median $128,440Take-home ≈ $93,664

  • $66K10th
  • $106K25th
  • $128KMedian
  • $162K75th
  • $224K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

90people in this job
+6%vs U.S. average
#5 of 8California metros
109cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary pay range in Santa Maria

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $223,630 or more. The middle half of engineering teachers, postsecondary in Santa Maria earn between $106,350 and $162,340.

  • $66K10th
  • $106K25th
  • $128KMedian
  • $162K75th
  • $224K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$132,610$11,051—
Median$128,440$10,703—
Entry level (25th percentile)$106,350$8,862—
Experienced (75th percentile)$162,340$13,528—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.

Engineering teachers, postsecondary in Santa Maria earn 17% less than the California average ($159,690) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($124,520). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $109,270.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Santa Maria$132,610$128,440$65,730$223,63090
California$159,690$137,280$80,660$294,2602,720
United States$124,520$109,270$61,550$210,37040,270

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary salary after taxes in Santa Maria

On the average salary of $132,610, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $93,664 a year, or $7,805 a month and $3,602 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Santa Maria a good place for engineering teachers, postsecondary? 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 $132,610 buys what about $121,886 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $132,610 is worth in another city

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary salary in other California cities

Santa Maria ranks 5th of 8 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($187,890).

All Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for engineering teachers, postsecondary

San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($187,890).

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary salary by city

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Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary salary in Santa Maria: questions

What is the entry-level engineering teachers, postsecondary salary in Santa Maria?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,350, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the engineering teachers, postsecondary take-home pay in Santa Maria?

About $93,664 a year ($7,805 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $132,610. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do engineering teachers, postsecondary earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?

The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($124,520).

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 25-1032; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
  • 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 1.75, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.