Software Developers pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $215,750 or more. The middle half of software developers in Santa Maria earn between $127,490 and $173,660.
- $100K10th
- $127K25th
- $158KMedian
- $174K75th
- $216K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $158,220 | $13,185 | $76.07 |
| Median | $158,290 | $13,191 | $76.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $127,490 | $10,624 | $61.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $173,660 | $14,472 | $83.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Software Developers salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $158,220, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $108,787 a year, or $9,066 a month and $4,184 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 software developers? 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 $158,220 buys what about $145,425 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 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Software Developers salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 6th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($221,710).
- San Jose$221,710
- San Francisco$193,430
- Oxnard$174,020
- San Diego$163,300
- Los Angeles$161,900
- Santa Maria$158,220
- San Luis Obispo$155,770
- Napa$154,740
- Santa Cruz$153,930
- Bakersfield$153,610
Highest-paying cities for software developers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($221,710).
- San Jose, CA$221,710
- San Francisco, CA$193,430
- Seattle, WA$174,920
- Oxnard, CA$174,020
- Boulder, CO$166,480
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Software Developers salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do software developers make an hour in Santa Maria?
$76.07 an hour on average, and $76.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level software developers salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $127,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the software developers take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $108,787 a year ($9,066 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $158,220. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do software developers earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($150,439).
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 15-1252; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.