School Psychologists pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $157,550 or more. The middle half of school psychologists in Santa Maria earn between $117,160 and $141,060.
- $105K10th
- $117K25th
- $128KMedian
- $141K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,770 | $10,814 | $62.39 |
| Median | $128,110 | $10,676 | $61.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $117,160 | $9,763 | $56.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $141,060 | $11,755 | $67.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
School Psychologists pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
School psychologists in Santa Maria earn about the same as the California average ($127,830) and 31% more than the U.S. average ($99,160). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $95,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $129,770 | $128,110 | $104,620 | $157,550 | 110 |
| California | $127,830 | $127,780 | $97,200 | $160,170 | 8,340 |
| United States | $99,160 | $95,990 | $63,070 | $142,330 | 63,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
School Psychologists salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $129,770, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $91,987 a year, or $7,666 a month and $3,538 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 school psychologists? 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 $129,770 buys what about $119,276 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
School Psychologists salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 9th of 20 California metro areas for this job; El Centro pays the most ($141,360).
- El Centro$141,360
- San Jose$137,350
- San Francisco$135,970
- Riverside$135,230
- Modesto$133,120
- Visalia$131,970
- Yuba City$130,690
- Oxnard$130,050
- Santa Maria$129,770
- Santa Rosa$129,200
Highest-paying cities for school psychologists
Boulder, CO pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,700).
- Boulder, CO$142,700
- El Centro, CA$141,360
- San Jose, CA$137,350
- San Francisco, CA$135,970
- Riverside, CA$135,230
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School Psychologists salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do school psychologists make an hour in Santa Maria?
$62.39 an hour on average, and $61.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level school psychologists salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $117,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the school psychologists take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $91,987 a year ($7,666 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,770. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do school psychologists earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% more than the U.S. average for this job ($99,160).
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 19-3034; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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