Chemical Technicians Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Chemical Technicians in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA make a median of $56,160 a year, or about $27 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $51,618 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month — about 85.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $56K 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 chemical technicians
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Entry-level chemical technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $83K | +44% | 950 |
| Delaware | $65K | +12% | 600 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +12% | 2,200 |
| Texas | $65K | +12% | 6,510 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | +11% | 770 |
| West Virginia | $64K | +10% | 240 |
| Arizona | $63K | +9% | 470 |
| New Mexico | $63K | +8% | 100 |
| Illinois | $62K | +7% | 1,410 |
| Alaska | $61K | +6% | 150 |
| Vermont | $61K | +5% | 140 |
| South Carolina | $60K | +3% | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $59K | +2% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +2% | 3,050 |
| Missouri | $59K | +2% | 700 |
| New York | $58K | -0% | 2,350 |
| Michigan | $58K | -0% | 2,300 |
| New Jersey | $58K | -0% | 3,210 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -1% | 970 |
| California | $57K | -2% | 6,480 |
| Washington | $56K | -3% | 880 |
| Kansas | $55K | -4% | 290 |
| Idaho | $55K | -5% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $55K | -5% | 540 |
| Ohio | $55K | -5% | 2,500 |
| Minnesota | $54K | -6% | 730 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -6% | 330 |
| North Dakota | $53K | -8% | 90 |
| Utah | $53K | -8% | 760 |
| Alabama | $53K | -9% | 1,180 |
| Wyoming | $53K | -9% | 240 |
| Iowa | $52K | -10% | 430 |
| Indiana | $52K | -10% | 1,410 |
| Georgia | $52K | -10% | 820 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -12% | 1,740 |
| Connecticut | $51K | -12% | 470 |
| Virginia | $51K | -12% | 1,070 |
| Nevada | $50K | -13% | 870 |
| Montana | $50K | -13% | 200 |
| Oregon | $50K | -14% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -14% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -15% | 1,360 |
| District of Columbia | $49K | -16% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -17% | 90 |
| Maryland | $48K | -17% | 930 |
| Maine | $47K | -18% | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | -18% | 160 |
| Florida | $47K | -19% | 1,960 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -19% | 450 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemical technicians 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 chemical technicians make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $56,160 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,580, and experienced chemical technicians can clear $73,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,792/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 82.4% 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 chemical technicians 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 chemical technicians salary is worth about $51,618 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical technicians 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.