How much does a teacher and instructor make in Santa Maria?
$78,820a year
Median yearly pay for teacher and instructors in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $37.89 an hour or $6,568 a month.
- Hourly
- $37.89
- Vs. national median
- +19%
- Rank among cities
- 48 of 244
- Jobs in the area
- 380
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $45,990Median: $78,820Highest 10%: $124,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,990 | $22.11 | |
| 25th | $57,520 | $27.65 | |
| Median | $78,820 | $37.89 | |
| 75th | $99,550 | $47.86 | |
| 90th | $124,000 | $59.62 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for teacher and instructors.
| Salinas, CA | $113,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $105,200 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,900 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $101,100 |
| Stockton, CA | $99,820 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $97,680 |
| Riverside, CA | $97,070 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $96,820 |
| Chico, CA | $95,420 |
| Merced, CA | $93,400 |
| Hanford, CA | $86,710 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $85,640 |
| Napa, CA | $84,420 |
| Visalia, CA | $83,410 |
| Sacramento, CA | $81,720 |
| Yuba City, CA | $81,320 |
| San Diego, CA | $80,460 |
| San Francisco, CA | $79,250 |
| Vallejo, CA | $78,760 |
| San Jose, CA | $77,720 |
| Oxnard, CA | $77,230 |
| El Centro, CA | $77,110 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $76,640 |
Related jobs in Santa Maria
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Science Teacher | $173,600 |
| Mathematical Science Teacher | $132,000 |
| Engineering Teacher | $128,400 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher | $126,200 |
| Biological Science Teacher | $109,400 |
| Special Education Teacher | $107,400 |
| Physics Teacher | $105,800 |
| Psychology Teacher | $103,800 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teacher | $103,200 |
| Business Teacher | $103,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teacher and instructor make an hour in Santa Maria?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $37.89 ($78,820 a year).
Do teacher and instructors make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $78,820 against $66,140 nationally, 19% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $87,460, so Santa Maria pays 10% less.
Where does Santa Maria rank for teacher and instructor pay?
48 of 244 metro areas with data.
How much does a teacher and instructor make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $45,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $124,000 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.