Electronics Engineers, Except Computer Salary
In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, electronics engineers, except computers earn $135,810 at the median, or about $65.3 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $206K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $124,825 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month, about 39% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $136K actually covers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, month by month
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 electronics engineers, except computers
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What this looks like in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
Electronics engineers, except computer pay in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara tracks closely to the national median, $136K locally vs. $130K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $3,124/month, which is 39.5% 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 electronics engineers, except computers in metros near Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $194K | $176K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $141K | $124K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $156K | $140K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $162K | $141K |
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 electronics engineers, except computers (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $136K. Top earners bring in $206K or more, a $123K spread from bottom to top.
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Electronics Engineers, Except Computer salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $161K | +23% | 20,830 |
| New Jersey | $159K | +22% | 1,820 |
| District of Columbia | $157K | +21% | 400 |
| Maryland | $156K | +20% | 3,390 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | +6% | 5,910 |
| New Mexico | $137K | +5% | 1,110 |
| Rhode Island | $136K | +5% | 970 |
| Texas | $132K | +2% | 9,520 |
| Washington | $130K | +0% | 1,950 |
| Illinois | $129K | -1% | 960 |
| Utah | $128K | -1% | 1,570 |
| Maine | $127K | -2% | N/A |
| Michigan | $127K | -2% | 2,960 |
| Colorado | $127K | -2% | 6,080 |
| Hawaii | $127K | -3% | 310 |
| Oregon | $124K | -4% | 1,730 |
| Georgia | $123K | -6% | 2,630 |
| Tennessee | $123K | -6% | 740 |
| Pennsylvania | $121K | -7% | 1,440 |
| Alabama | $121K | -7% | 1,940 |
| West Virginia | $120K | -8% | 90 |
| Virginia | $120K | -8% | 3,280 |
| New York | $119K | -8% | 2,220 |
| Ohio | $119K | -9% | 3,240 |
| Arizona | $118K | -9% | 2,100 |
| Missouri | $118K | -10% | 740 |
| Florida | $117K | -10% | 5,280 |
| Nevada | $116K | -11% | 360 |
| North Carolina | $116K | -11% | 2,090 |
| South Carolina | $114K | -13% | 1,030 |
| Mississippi | $112K | -14% | 160 |
| Minnesota | $112K | -14% | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $112K | -14% | 1,420 |
| Arkansas | $110K | -16% | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $109K | -16% | 1,410 |
| Alaska | $107K | -18% | 180 |
| Connecticut | $106K | -19% | 1,130 |
| New Hampshire | $105K | -19% | 320 |
| North Dakota | $105K | -19% | 50 |
| Kansas | $104K | -20% | 770 |
| Idaho | $103K | -21% | 500 |
| Kentucky | $102K | -22% | 860 |
| Louisiana | $100K | -23% | 450 |
| Wyoming | $96K | -26% | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $94K | -28% | 360 |
| Montana | $93K | -28% | 140 |
| Nebraska | $91K | -30% | 250 |
| Vermont | $86K | -34% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $84K | -35% | 190 |
| Iowa | $81K | -38% | 350 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track electronics engineers, except computer salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Santa Maria-Santa Barbara numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a electronics engineers, except computer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $136K, rent takes 39.5% 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 $2,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for electronics engineers, except computers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electronics engineers, except computers typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,239/month. At HUD’s $3,124/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is electronics engineers, except computer a high-paying job in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $136K locally vs. $130K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Santa Maria-Santa Barbara compare to the national average for electronics engineers, except computers?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara pays $136K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $125K — below the national median.
How much do electronics engineers, except computers make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $135,810 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,910, and experienced electronics engineers, except computers can clear $206,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $136K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,901/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 39.5% 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 electronics engineers, except computer 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 electronics engineers, except computer salary is worth about $124,825 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electronics engineers, except computers 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.