Occupational Therapists pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $152,450 or more. The middle half of occupational therapists in Santa Maria earn between $109,780 and $137,320.
- $96K10th
- $110K25th
- $126KMedian
- $137K75th
- $152K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,310 | $10,192 | $58.80 |
| Median | $125,890 | $10,491 | $60.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,780 | $9,148 | $52.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $137,320 | $11,443 | $66.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapists pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Occupational therapists in Santa Maria earn about the same as the California average ($121,920) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($101,280). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $100,330.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $122,310 | $125,890 | $95,870 | $152,450 | 170 |
| California | $121,920 | $124,510 | $85,550 | $158,560 | 13,810 |
| United States | $101,280 | $100,330 | $71,690 | $131,950 | 162,450 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Occupational Therapists salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $122,310, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $87,582 a year, or $7,299 a month and $3,369 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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 occupational therapists? 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 $122,310 buys what about $112,419 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapists salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 9th of 23 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($137,450).
- San Jose$137,450
- San Francisco$136,250
- Santa Cruz$131,980
- Vallejo$128,760
- Santa Rosa$128,610
- Napa$127,120
- Sacramento$123,560
- Salinas$122,370
- Santa Maria$122,310
- Stockton$122,080
Highest-paying cities for occupational therapists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($137,450).
- San Jose, CA$137,450
- San Francisco, CA$136,250
- Santa Cruz, CA$131,980
- Vallejo, CA$128,760
- Santa Rosa, CA$128,610
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Occupational Therapists salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do occupational therapists make an hour in Santa Maria?
$58.81 an hour on average, and $60.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapists salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapists take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $87,582 a year ($7,299 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,310. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do occupational therapists earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more than the U.S. average for this job ($101,280).
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 29-1122; 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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