Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA make a median of $173,640 a year. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $316K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $159,596 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month, about 30.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $174K 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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara sits well above the national pay line for computer science teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 79% higher than the U.S. median of $97K. Rent runs $3,124/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32% 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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $110K | $97K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $126K | $114K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $167K | $149K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $133K | $115K |
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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $174K. Top earners bring in $316K or more, a $244K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128K | +32% | 2,480 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +32% | 1,490 |
| Utah | $124K | +28% | 550 |
| Michigan | $108K | +11% | 810 |
| Oregon | $107K | +11% | 530 |
| Virginia | $107K | +10% | 1,670 |
| Nevada | $107K | +10% | 140 |
| Connecticut | $106K | +10% | 390 |
| Indiana | $103K | +6% | 1,240 |
| Delaware | $102K | +5% | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | +5% | 210 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | +4% | 160 |
| Maine | $100K | +3% | 120 |
| Maryland | $99K | +2% | 830 |
| Illinois | $99K | +2% | 1,540 |
| Georgia | $98K | +1% | 1,160 |
| Wisconsin | $98K | +1% | 510 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | +1% | 1,520 |
| Texas | $97K | +1% | 3,540 |
| New York | $96K | -1% | 3,170 |
| Vermont | $95K | -2% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $94K | -3% | 260 |
| Alabama | $93K | -4% | 500 |
| Ohio | $91K | -6% | 1,180 |
| Washington | $91K | -6% | 800 |
| Missouri | $91K | -6% | 510 |
| Iowa | $90K | -8% | 290 |
| Minnesota | $86K | -12% | 480 |
| Arizona | $84K | -13% | 700 |
| New Hampshire | $84K | -14% | 210 |
| Kentucky | $83K | -14% | 310 |
| Tennessee | $82K | -16% | 560 |
| Montana | $82K | -16% | 60 |
| New Jersey | $82K | -16% | 1,440 |
| North Dakota | $81K | -16% | 90 |
| Colorado | $81K | -17% | 920 |
| North Carolina | $80K | -17% | 1,650 |
| New Mexico | $79K | -18% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $78K | -19% | 380 |
| Louisiana | $78K | -20% | 200 |
| Florida | $77K | -21% | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $77K | -21% | 210 |
| South Dakota | $76K | -22% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $76K | -22% | 160 |
| West Virginia | $74K | -24% | 270 |
| Kansas | $67K | -31% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $64K | -34% | 40 |
| Arkansas | $56K | -42% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer science teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Maria-Santa Barbara numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a computer science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $174K, rent takes 32% 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 $2,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer science teachers, postsecondaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,284/month. At HUD’s $3,124/month FMR, rent would take 73% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer science teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Local pay is 79% above the national median — $174K here vs. $97K 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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara pays $174K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s +79%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $160K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer science teachers, postsecondaries make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $173,640 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,400, and experienced computer science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $315,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $174K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,762/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 32% 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 computer science 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 computer science teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $159,596 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer science 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.