Chemical Technicians pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,530 or more. The middle half of chemical technicians in Santa Maria earn between $47,130 and $67,880.
- $43K10th
- $47K25th
- $58KMedian
- $68K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,220 | $5,018 | $28.95 |
| Median | $57,610 | $4,801 | $27.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,130 | $3,928 | $22.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,880 | $5,657 | $32.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Technicians pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Chemical technicians in Santa Maria earn 7% less than the California average ($64,570) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($63,900). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $60,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $60,220 | $57,610 | $43,070 | $82,530 | 80 |
| California | $64,570 | $59,510 | $44,070 | $88,900 | 6,800 |
| United States | $63,900 | $60,390 | $41,740 | $92,040 | 57,540 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Technicians salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $60,220, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $48,761 a year, or $4,063 a month and $1,875 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 chemical technicians? 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 $60,220 buys what about $55,350 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 16.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Technicians salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 8th of 19 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($76,990).
- San Francisco$76,990
- San Jose$71,610
- Vallejo$70,500
- Sacramento$65,170
- Los Angeles$63,410
- San Diego$60,910
- Bakersfield$60,790
- Santa Maria$60,220
- Napa$58,780
- Santa Rosa$58,670
Highest-paying cities for chemical technicians
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,470).
- Baton Rouge, LA$94,470
- Lake Charles, LA$89,340
- Augusta, GA$83,060
- Niles, MI$81,900
- Beaumont, TX$80,360
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Chemical Technicians salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do chemical technicians make an hour in Santa Maria?
$28.95 an hour on average, and $27.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical technicians salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical technicians take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $48,761 a year ($4,063 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,220. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do chemical technicians earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,900).
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 19-4031; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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