Architects, Except Landscape and Naval Salary
The median pay for a architects, except landscape and naval in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $103,820/year ($49.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $158K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $95,423 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month, about 48.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $104K get you in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Maria-Santa Barbara’s Regional Price Parity (108.8). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About architects, except landscape and navals
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What this looks like in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
Architects, except landscape and naval pay in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara tracks closely to the national median, $104K locally vs. $99K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $3,124/month, which is 49.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.8), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for architects, except landscape and navals in metros near Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $104K | $92K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $127K | $109K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $120K | $107K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $130K | $117K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Entry-level architects, except landscape and navals (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $158K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $121K | +21% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $117K | +18% | 4,590 |
| Maryland | $115K | +15% | 1,800 |
| Alaska | $109K | +10% | 210 |
| California | $109K | +9% | 13,270 |
| Rhode Island | $105K | +6% | 550 |
| Connecticut | $104K | +4% | 1,200 |
| South Dakota | $103K | +3% | 180 |
| Colorado | $102K | +3% | 3,290 |
| Hawaii | $102K | +3% | 600 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | +3% | 1,700 |
| Arizona | $102K | +3% | 1,550 |
| Nevada | $102K | +2% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $102K | +2% | 1,030 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | +2% | 250 |
| Georgia | $100K | +1% | 2,440 |
| Oklahoma | $100K | +1% | 910 |
| Washington | $100K | +1% | 3,720 |
| Minnesota | $100K | +1% | 2,340 |
| New Jersey | $100K | +1% | 2,390 |
| New York | $99K | +0% | 10,360 |
| Oregon | $99K | -0% | 2,050 |
| Wisconsin | $99K | -1% | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $98K | -1% | 2,150 |
| Kentucky | $98K | -2% | 630 |
| Virginia | $98K | -2% | 2,130 |
| Montana | $97K | -2% | 550 |
| North Dakota | $97K | -2% | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $97K | -2% | 3,760 |
| Delaware | $97K | -2% | 120 |
| Iowa | $97K | -2% | 650 |
| West Virginia | $96K | -3% | 80 |
| Florida | $96K | -3% | 5,580 |
| Indiana | $96K | -3% | 1,430 |
| Alabama | $96K | -3% | 990 |
| North Carolina | $96K | -4% | 2,980 |
| Utah | $96K | -4% | 1,520 |
| Ohio | $95K | -4% | 3,480 |
| Texas | $94K | -5% | 7,820 |
| Tennessee | $94K | -5% | 2,570 |
| Idaho | $94K | -6% | 850 |
| Nebraska | $92K | -8% | 620 |
| Michigan | $88K | -11% | 2,630 |
| Kansas | $85K | -14% | 840 |
| Vermont | $82K | -17% | 320 |
| Illinois | $82K | -18% | 5,130 |
| Mississippi | $81K | -19% | 330 |
| Louisiana | $80K | -20% | 1,200 |
| Maine | $79K | -21% | 500 |
| Arkansas | $78K | -21% | 720 |
| New Mexico | $78K | -22% | 600 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track architects, except landscape and naval salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Maria-Santa Barbara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architects, except landscape and naval afford a 2BR apartment alone in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 49.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,124/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for architects, except landscape and navals in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architects, except landscape and navals typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,544/month. At HUD’s $3,124/month FMR, rent would take 69% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is architects, except landscape and naval a high-paying job in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $104K locally vs. $99K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Santa Maria-Santa Barbara compare to the national average for architects, except landscape and navals?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do architects, except landscape and navals make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $103,820 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,730, and experienced architects, except landscape and navals can clear $158,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,303/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 49.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a architects, except landscape and naval salary go in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has a Regional Price Parity of 108.8 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median architects, except landscape and naval salary is worth about $95,423 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architects, except landscape and navals get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.