Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $359,180 or more. The middle half of education administrators, postsecondary in Santa Maria earn between $102,650 and $177,570.
- $77K10th
- $103K25th
- $154KMedian
- $178K75th
- $359K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $160,510 | $13,376 | $77.17 |
| Median | $153,950 | $12,829 | $74.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,650 | $8,554 | $49.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $177,570 | $14,798 | $85.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Education administrators, postsecondary in Santa Maria earn 14% more than the California average ($140,980) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($126,540). At the median the gap is +47% against the U.S. median of $104,590.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $160,510 | $153,950 | $77,320 | $359,180 | 150 |
| California | $140,980 | $125,460 | $76,700 | $216,480 | 14,870 |
| United States | $126,540 | $104,590 | $64,560 | $215,620 | 180,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $160,510, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $110,139 a year, or $9,178 a month and $4,236 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 education administrators, postsecondary? 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 $160,510 buys what about $147,530 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 4th of 18 California metro areas for this job; Merced pays the most ($197,170).
- Merced$197,170
- Santa Cruz$183,730
- San Jose$161,780
- Santa Maria$160,510
- San Francisco$145,530
- Sacramento$145,450
- Visalia$140,270
- Los Angeles$139,140
- San Diego$138,480
- Riverside$135,700
All Education Administrators, Postsecondary salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for education administrators, postsecondary
Augusta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($257,050).
- Augusta, GA$257,050
- Merced, CA$197,170
- Binghamton, NY$192,830
- Lansing, MI$187,140
- Santa Cruz, CA$183,730
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Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do education administrators, postsecondary make an hour in Santa Maria?
$77.17 an hour on average, and $74.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level education administrators, postsecondary salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the education administrators, postsecondary take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $110,139 a year ($9,178 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $160,510. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do education administrators, postsecondary earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% more than the U.S. average for this job ($126,540).
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 11-9033; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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