Pharmacists pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $130,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $208,880 or more. The middle half of pharmacists in Santa Maria earn between $140,610 and $179,960.
- $131K10th
- $141K25th
- $163KMedian
- $180K75th
- $209K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $161,780 | $13,482 | $77.78 |
| Median | $162,520 | $13,543 | $78.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $140,610 | $11,718 | $67.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $179,960 | $14,997 | $86.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Pharmacists pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Pharmacists in Santa Maria earn about the same as the California average ($162,340) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($140,920). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $140,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $161,780 | $162,520 | $130,670 | $208,880 | 290 |
| California | $162,340 | $164,610 | $90,560 | $213,820 | 34,030 |
| United States | $140,920 | $140,910 | $99,290 | $174,230 | 321,970 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Pharmacists salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $161,780, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $110,889 a year, or $9,241 a month and $4,265 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% 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 pharmacists? 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 $161,780 buys what about $148,698 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Pharmacists salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 13th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($190,370).
- San Jose$190,370
- Napa$186,750
- San Francisco$184,540
- Santa Rosa$175,910
- Sacramento$169,660
- Vallejo$169,600
- San Luis Obispo$168,490
- San Diego$167,490
- Salinas$164,590
- Santa Maria$161,780
Highest-paying cities for pharmacists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($190,370).
- San Jose, CA$190,370
- Napa, CA$186,750
- San Francisco, CA$184,540
- Florence, SC$184,250
- Santa Rosa, CA$175,910
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Pharmacists salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do pharmacists make an hour in Santa Maria?
$77.78 an hour on average, and $78.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level pharmacists salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $130,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $140,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the pharmacists take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $110,889 a year ($9,241 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $161,780. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do pharmacists earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($140,920).
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 29-1051; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.