Data Scientists pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $205,040 or more. The middle half of data scientists in Santa Maria earn between $82,110 and $159,150.
- $69K10th
- $82K25th
- $114KMedian
- $159K75th
- $205K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $125,770 | $10,481 | $60.47 |
| Median | $113,990 | $9,499 | $54.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,110 | $6,842 | $39.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $159,150 | $13,262 | $76.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Data Scientists pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Data scientists in Santa Maria earn 19% less than the California average ($156,000) and about the same as the U.S. average ($126,800). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $120,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | $125,770 | $113,990 | $68,690 | $205,040 | 190 |
| California | $156,000 | $141,590 | $77,480 | $224,920 | 39,310 |
| United States | $126,800 | $120,230 | $67,240 | $199,130 | 262,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Data Scientists salary after taxes in Santa Maria
On the average salary of $125,770, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $89,625 a year, or $7,469 a month and $3,447 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 data scientists? 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 $125,770 buys what about $115,600 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Data Scientists salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 8th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($212,760).
- San Jose$212,760
- San Francisco$174,830
- Oxnard$138,630
- Los Angeles$136,700
- San Diego$134,470
- Santa Cruz$132,800
- San Luis Obispo$128,340
- Santa Maria$125,770
- Riverside$125,060
- Napa$124,390
Highest-paying cities for data scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($212,760).
- San Jose, CA$212,760
- San Francisco, CA$174,830
- Seattle, WA$160,460
- Idaho Falls, ID$159,110
- Kennewick, WA$157,380
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Data Scientists salary in Santa Maria: questions
How much do data scientists make an hour in Santa Maria?
$60.47 an hour on average, and $54.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level data scientists salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the data scientists take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $89,625 a year ($7,469 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $125,770. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do data scientists earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($126,800).
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 15-2051; area Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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