Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,650 or more. The middle half of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Santa Maria earn between $76,510 and $84,530.
- $65K10th
- $77K25th
- $79KMedian
- $85K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,700 | $6,642 | $38.32 |
| Median | $79,010 | $6,584 | $37.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,510 | $6,376 | $36.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,530 | $7,044 | $40.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Santa Maria earn 3% less than the California average ($82,340) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($67,050). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $64,400.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $79,700 | $79,010 | $65,410 | $95,650 | 650 |
| California | $82,340 | $79,750 | $64,390 | $100,450 | 82,850 |
| United States | $67,050 | $64,400 | $49,740 | $83,440 | 648,410 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $79,700, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $61,579 a year, or $5,132 a month and $2,368 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses? 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 $79,700 buys what about $73,255 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 12.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 13th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($94,420).
- San Jose$94,420
- San Francisco$93,470
- Santa Rosa$90,480
- Napa$89,950
- Vallejo$87,980
- Sacramento$85,030
- Santa Cruz$83,910
- San Luis Obispo$82,160
- Salinas$81,790
- Santa Maria$79,700
All Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,420).
- San Jose, CA$94,420
- San Francisco, CA$93,470
- Santa Rosa, CA$90,480
- Napa, CA$89,950
- Vallejo, CA$87,980
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary by city
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Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make an hour in Santa Maria?
$38.32 an hour on average, and $37.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $61,579 a year ($5,132 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,700. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more than the U.S. average for this job ($67,050).
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 29-2061; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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