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How much does an engineer make in Santa Maria?

$136,700a year

Median yearly pay for engineers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $65.70 an hour or $11,390 a month.

Hourly
$65.70
Vs. national median
+11%
Rank among cities
21 of 248
Jobs in the area
460
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $81,660Median: $136,700Highest 10%: $198,100
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$81,660$39.26
25th$112,200$53.94
Median$136,700$65.70
75th$168,100$80.84
90th$198,100$95.23

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for engineers.

San Jose, CA$169,700
San Francisco, CA$159,800
Santa Cruz, CA$141,200
Bakersfield, CA$140,000
San Diego, CA$132,800
Stockton, CA$127,600
Los Angeles, CA$125,100
Sacramento, CA$124,200
Oxnard, CA$123,000
Fresno, CA$122,500
Modesto, CA$111,800
Santa Rosa, CA$104,800
Vallejo, CA$102,400
Riverside, CA$100,100
Salinas, CA$98,950
San Luis Obispo, CA$97,210
Engineer salary in California Engineer salary in all states

Related jobs in Santa Maria

Same field, median yearly pay.

Computer Hardware Engineer$148,400
Electronics Engineer$135,800
Electrical Engineer$134,600
Aerospace Engineer$130,900
Environmental Engineer$122,400
Mechanical Engineer$121,100
Civil Engineer$120,000
Industrial Engineer$119,800
Architect$103,800
Surveyor$100,900
Salaries for every job in Santa Maria, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does an engineer make an hour in Santa Maria?

The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $65.70 ($136,700 a year).

Do engineers make more in Santa Maria than the national average?

Yes: $136,700 against $122,900 nationally, 11% more.

How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $130,900, so Santa Maria pays 4% more.

Where does Santa Maria rank for engineer pay?

21 of 248 metro areas with data.

How much does an engineer make starting out in Santa Maria?

The lowest-paid 10% make $81,660 or less a year; the top 10% make $198,100 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.