Veterinarians pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $260,480 or more. The middle half of veterinarians in Santa Maria earn between $113,630 and $194,260.
- $64K10th
- $114K25th
- $159KMedian
- $194K75th
- $260K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $155,510 | $12,959 | $74.76 |
| Median | $158,840 | $13,237 | $76.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $113,630 | $9,469 | $54.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $194,260 | $16,188 | $93.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Veterinarians pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Veterinarians in Santa Maria earn 8% less than the California average ($169,860) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($142,680). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $130,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $155,510 | $158,840 | $64,390 | $260,480 | 140 |
| California | $169,860 | $163,920 | $74,850 | $286,330 | 9,170 |
| United States | $142,680 | $130,100 | $73,920 | $215,700 | 83,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Veterinarians salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $155,510, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $107,187 a year, or $8,932 a month and $4,123 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 veterinarians? 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 $155,510 buys what about $142,935 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Veterinarians salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 17th of 21 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($195,160).
- San Francisco$195,160
- San Jose$192,030
- Sacramento$177,250
- Santa Rosa$171,160
- Santa Cruz$170,430
- Napa$168,500
- Riverside$168,240
- Vallejo$165,130
- Los Angeles$164,460
- Santa Maria$155,510
Highest-paying cities for veterinarians
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($215,060).
- Anchorage, AK$215,060
- San Francisco, CA$195,160
- Tucson, AZ$193,390
- San Jose, CA$192,030
- Phoenix, AZ$186,840
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Veterinarians salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do veterinarians make an hour in Santa Maria?
$74.76 an hour on average, and $76.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $113,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the veterinarians take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $107,187 a year ($8,932 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $155,510. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do veterinarians earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($142,680).
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 29-1131; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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