Recreation Workers pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $67,840 or more. The middle half of recreation workers in Santa Maria earn between $36,920 and $49,220.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $49K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,460 | $3,788 | $21.86 |
| Median | $38,870 | $3,239 | $18.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,920 | $3,077 | $17.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,220 | $4,102 | $23.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreation Workers pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Recreation workers in Santa Maria earn 4% more than the California average ($43,530) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($38,520). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $36,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $45,460 | $38,870 | $35,090 | $67,840 | 430 |
| California | $43,530 | $39,780 | $35,900 | $56,150 | 48,560 |
| United States | $38,520 | $36,560 | $27,600 | $50,410 | 331,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Recreation Workers salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $45,460, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $37,753 a year, or $3,146 a month and $1,452 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 recreation workers? 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 $45,460 buys what about $41,784 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 22.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreation Workers salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 4th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($54,750).
- San Jose$54,750
- San Francisco$48,810
- Napa$45,860
- Santa Maria$45,460
- Santa Rosa$44,760
- Santa Cruz$43,410
- Sacramento$42,820
- Yuba City$42,790
- San Diego$42,610
- Vallejo$42,490
Highest-paying cities for recreation workers
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,070).
- Fairbanks, AK$61,070
- San Jose, CA$54,750
- San Francisco, CA$48,810
- Seattle, WA$47,840
- Bozeman, MT$47,520
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Recreation Workers salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do recreation workers make an hour in Santa Maria?
$21.86 an hour on average, and $18.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreation workers salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreation workers take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $37,753 a year ($3,146 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,460. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do recreation workers earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,520).
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 39-9032; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.