Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA make a median of $74,620 a year, or about $35.87 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $68,585 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month — about 64.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $75K 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 career/technical education teachers, postsecondaries
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Entry-level career/technical education teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $124K spread from bottom to top.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $83K | +35% | 2,000 |
| New Hampshire | $81K | +32% | 240 |
| Oregon | $79K | +29% | 1,130 |
| New York | $77K | +25% | 4,690 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +25% | 1,680 |
| Minnesota | $76K | +23% | 1,340 |
| California | $75K | +22% | 9,110 |
| South Carolina | $75K | +21% | 1,220 |
| New Jersey | $68K | +11% | 2,620 |
| Washington | $67K | +10% | 3,610 |
| Alaska | $67K | +9% | 350 |
| Vermont | $65K | +5% | 210 |
| North Dakota | $65K | +5% | 370 |
| South Dakota | $64K | +5% | 290 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | +5% | 2,890 |
| Texas | $64K | +4% | 12,150 |
| Rhode Island | $63K | +3% | 300 |
| Ohio | $62K | +2% | 4,050 |
| Michigan | $62K | +1% | 3,460 |
| Missouri | $62K | +1% | 1,780 |
| Arizona | $62K | +1% | 2,250 |
| Maine | $61K | -0% | 500 |
| New Mexico | $61K | -0% | 640 |
| Indiana | $61K | -1% | 2,210 |
| Delaware | $61K | -1% | 250 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -1% | 460 |
| Nevada | $61K | -1% | 870 |
| Iowa | $61K | -1% | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $61K | -1% | 7,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -2% | 4,890 |
| Montana | $60K | -2% | 430 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -3% | 2,300 |
| West Virginia | $60K | -3% | 360 |
| Illinois | $59K | -3% | 4,590 |
| Maryland | $59K | -4% | 880 |
| Alabama | $58K | -6% | 1,850 |
| Connecticut | $57K | -7% | 920 |
| District of Columbia | $57K | -8% | 50 |
| Virginia | $56K | -9% | 2,580 |
| Hawaii | $55K | -11% | 60 |
| Georgia | $52K | -15% | 4,010 |
| Florida | $52K | -15% | 7,300 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -18% | 1,260 |
| Wyoming | $50K | -18% | 330 |
| Utah | $50K | -19% | 2,800 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -20% | 620 |
| Kansas | $49K | -20% | 1,100 |
| Idaho | $49K | -20% | 560 |
| Kentucky | $49K | -21% | 1,820 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -23% | 1,730 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track career/technical education teachers, postsecondary 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
How much do career/technical education teachers, postsecondaries make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $74,620 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,420, and experienced career/technical education teachers, postsecondaries can clear $164,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,817/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 64.9% 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 career/technical education teachers, postsecondary 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 career/technical education teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $68,585 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do career/technical education teachers, postsecondaries 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.