Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,320 or more. The middle half of architects (except landscape and naval) in Santa Maria earn between $80,180 and $129,560.
- $76K10th
- $80K25th
- $104KMedian
- $130K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $112,050 | $9,338 | $53.87 |
| Median | $103,820 | $8,652 | $49.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,180 | $6,682 | $38.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $129,560 | $10,797 | $62.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Architects (except landscape and naval) in Santa Maria earn 8% less than the California average ($121,910) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($106,260). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $99,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $112,050 | $103,820 | $75,730 | $158,320 | 220 |
| California | $121,910 | $108,540 | $75,640 | $171,160 | 13,270 |
| United States | $106,260 | $99,280 | $62,300 | $161,420 | 106,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $112,050, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $81,329 a year, or $6,777 a month and $3,128 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 architects (except landscape and naval)? 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 $112,050 buys what about $102,989 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 11th of 18 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($142,170).
- San Jose$142,170
- San Francisco$131,300
- Sacramento$124,740
- San Diego$123,640
- Redding$118,650
- Modesto$116,700
- Bakersfield$116,030
- Los Angeles$115,940
- Santa Rosa$115,070
- Santa Maria$112,050
All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for architects (except landscape and naval)
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,170).
- San Jose, CA$142,170
- San Francisco, CA$131,300
- Trenton, NJ$127,000
- Kiryas Joel, NY$125,980
- Sacramento, CA$124,740
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Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do architects (except landscape and naval) make an hour in Santa Maria?
$53.87 an hour on average, and $49.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architects (except landscape and naval) salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architects (except landscape and naval) take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $81,329 a year ($6,777 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $112,050. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do architects (except landscape and naval) earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($106,260).
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 17-1011; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 1.57, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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