Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA make a median of $36,700 a year, or about $17.65 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $33,732 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month — about 123.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $37K 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 food servers, nonrestaurants
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Entry-level food servers, nonrestaurants (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $38K | +10% | 14,690 |
| Washington | $38K | +10% | 7,300 |
| California | $38K | +9% | 29,570 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +9% | 1,230 |
| Hawaii | $37K | +9% | 750 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | +6% | 6,120 |
| New Hampshire | $36K | +5% | 2,230 |
| Vermont | $36K | +5% | 710 |
| Oregon | $36K | +5% | 3,860 |
| Connecticut | $36K | +4% | 4,510 |
| North Dakota | $36K | +4% | 1,710 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +2% | 10,760 |
| Minnesota | $35K | +2% | 10,150 |
| Maine | $35K | +2% | 660 |
| Arizona | $35K | +2% | 3,840 |
| Maryland | $35K | +2% | 6,680 |
| Wisconsin | $34K | +0% | 5,200 |
| Illinois | $34K | -0% | 15,340 |
| Virginia | $34K | -2% | 7,850 |
| Nevada | $34K | -2% | 1,800 |
| Rhode Island | $34K | -2% | 730 |
| Florida | $32K | -7% | 13,590 |
| Wyoming | $32K | -7% | 200 |
| Georgia | $32K | -7% | 5,750 |
| Michigan | $32K | -8% | 8,310 |
| Delaware | $32K | -8% | 840 |
| Indiana | $32K | -8% | 4,200 |
| Montana | $32K | -8% | 880 |
| Alaska | $31K | -9% | 360 |
| Idaho | $31K | -9% | 590 |
| New Mexico | $31K | -10% | 600 |
| Kentucky | $31K | -10% | 2,480 |
| Missouri | $31K | -10% | 4,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $31K | -10% | 17,650 |
| Nebraska | $31K | -10% | 3,980 |
| South Dakota | $31K | -10% | 100 |
| North Carolina | $31K | -11% | 6,130 |
| South Carolina | $30K | -13% | 3,190 |
| Texas | $30K | -14% | 16,380 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -14% | 610 |
| Ohio | $29K | -15% | 11,480 |
| Iowa | $29K | -15% | 5,160 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -16% | 4,940 |
| Utah | $28K | -18% | 2,310 |
| Alabama | $28K | -19% | 3,260 |
| Oklahoma | $27K | -21% | 1,580 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -23% | 3,000 |
| Kansas | $26K | -24% | 1,190 |
| Louisiana | $26K | -26% | 2,850 |
| Mississippi | $25K | -29% | 1,940 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food servers, nonrestaurant salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurants make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $36,700 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,360, and experienced food servers, nonrestaurants can clear $47,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,573/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 121.4% 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 food servers, nonrestaurant 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 food servers, nonrestaurant salary is worth about $33,732 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food servers, nonrestaurants 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.