Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary
The median pay for a architectural and engineering managers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $207,900/year ($99.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $131K at the entry level to $267K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $191,085 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,124/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $208K 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 architectural and engineering managers
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What this looks like in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara sits well above the national pay line for architectural and engineering managers, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $171K. Rent runs $3,124/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 architectural and engineering managers in metros near Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $191K | $168K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $235K | $212K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $222K | $192K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $203K | $181K |
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 architectural and engineering managers (10th percentile) start around $131K. Mid-career wages sit at $208K. Top earners bring in $267K or more, a $135K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Engineering Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Architectural and Engineering Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $215K | +26% | 2,270 |
| California | $210K | +23% | 29,630 |
| Massachusetts | $201K | +18% | 7,690 |
| Washington | $190K | +11% | 6,060 |
| District of Columbia | $185K | +8% | 1,290 |
| Colorado | $184K | +7% | 4,900 |
| Delaware | $181K | +6% | 560 |
| New Jersey | $181K | +5% | 4,540 |
| Oregon | $177K | +3% | N/A |
| Virginia | $176K | +3% | 4,390 |
| Rhode Island | $176K | +3% | 370 |
| New York | $176K | +3% | 8,250 |
| Connecticut | $175K | +2% | 4,970 |
| Maryland | $173K | +1% | 5,240 |
| New Hampshire | $172K | +1% | 2,160 |
| Minnesota | $172K | +1% | 4,580 |
| Texas | $171K | +0% | 19,030 |
| Florida | $171K | -0% | 8,710 |
| South Carolina | $169K | -1% | 3,200 |
| North Carolina | $168K | -2% | 6,960 |
| Arizona | $167K | -2% | 4,680 |
| Michigan | $167K | -3% | 14,820 |
| Ohio | $167K | -3% | 9,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $165K | -4% | 9,640 |
| South Dakota | $164K | -4% | 310 |
| Alaska | $164K | -4% | 900 |
| Illinois | $164K | -4% | 8,900 |
| Wyoming | $164K | -5% | N/A |
| Idaho | $163K | -5% | 850 |
| Louisiana | $163K | -5% | 1,840 |
| Alabama | $162K | -5% | 3,790 |
| Nevada | $162K | -6% | 780 |
| Georgia | $161K | -6% | 3,590 |
| Tennessee | $161K | -6% | 3,600 |
| Utah | $161K | -6% | 2,290 |
| Kansas | $160K | -6% | 2,010 |
| Missouri | $158K | -8% | 2,250 |
| Vermont | $158K | -8% | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $157K | -8% | 2,070 |
| Indiana | $156K | -9% | 4,610 |
| Hawaii | $152K | -11% | 1,220 |
| West Virginia | $149K | -13% | 420 |
| Kentucky | $148K | -14% | 1,800 |
| North Dakota | $147K | -14% | 270 |
| Iowa | $147K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Montana | $146K | -15% | 560 |
| Maine | $146K | -15% | 820 |
| Mississippi | $143K | -17% | 860 |
| Wisconsin | $142K | -17% | 4,550 |
| Nebraska | $141K | -18% | 1,510 |
| Arkansas | $141K | -18% | 1,220 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track architectural and engineering managers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and engineering manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Yes — at the median salary of $208K, rent takes 26.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,124/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and engineering managers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and engineering managers typically earn — is $131K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,880/month. At HUD’s $3,124/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is architectural and engineering manager a high-paying job in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $208K here vs. $171K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Santa Maria-Santa Barbara compare to the national average for architectural and engineering managers?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara pays $208K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $191K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architectural and engineering managers make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $207,900 a year, that works out to about $100 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $131,330, and experienced architectural and engineering managers can clear $266,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $208K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,607/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 26.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a architectural and engineering managers 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 architectural and engineering managers salary is worth about $191,085 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architectural and engineering managers 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.