Lawyers pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $289,030 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Santa Maria earn between $109,550 and $216,420.
- $74K10th
- $110K25th
- $171KMedian
- $216K75th
- $289K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $178,720 | $14,893 | $85.92 |
| Median | $170,970 | $14,248 | $82.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,550 | $9,129 | $52.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $216,420 | $18,035 | $104.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Lawyers in Santa Maria earn 22% less than the California average ($230,040) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $178,720 | $170,970 | $73,920 | $289,030 | 700 |
| California | $230,040 | $195,080 | $97,950 | $369,180 | 95,770 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $178,720, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $120,892 a year, or $10,074 a month and $4,650 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% 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 lawyers? 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 $178,720 buys what about $164,268 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 13th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($288,980).
- San Jose$288,980
- Santa Rosa$248,950
- Los Angeles$241,500
- San Francisco$237,060
- San Diego$203,680
- Modesto$195,450
- San Luis Obispo$193,770
- Hanford$193,170
- Oxnard$191,100
- Santa Maria$178,720
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Santa Maria?
$85.93 an hour on average, and $82.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $120,892 a year ($10,074 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $178,720. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do lawyers earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
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 23-1011; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.3%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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