Food Preparation Workers pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,690 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Santa Maria earn between $36,110 and $43,550.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $44K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,830 | $3,402 | $19.63 |
| Median | $38,470 | $3,206 | $18.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,110 | $3,009 | $17.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,550 | $3,629 | $20.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Santa Maria earn about the same as the California average ($41,480) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $40,830 | $38,470 | $34,840 | $48,690 | 1,490 |
| California | $41,480 | $39,350 | $35,190 | $48,470 | 112,750 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $40,830, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $34,218 a year, or $2,852 a month and $1,316 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 food preparation workers? 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 $40,830 buys what about $37,528 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 24.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 11th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($45,660).
- San Jose$45,660
- Napa$44,240
- Santa Rosa$43,450
- San Francisco$43,290
- Santa Cruz$42,060
- Vallejo$41,390
- San Luis Obispo$41,340
- Los Angeles$41,220
- Salinas$41,130
- Santa Maria$40,830
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Santa Maria?
$19.63 an hour on average, and $18.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $34,218 a year ($2,852 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,830. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.