Paycheck Atlas

Food Preparation Workers salary in Santa Maria, CA

The median food preparation workers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA earns $38,470 a year, 9% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,533 a month.

10th percentile
$34,840
25th percentile
$36,110
Median percentile
$38,470
75th percentile
$43,550
90th percentile
$48,690

Based on 1,490 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$30,398 take-home a year
Gross pay$38,470
Federal income tax−$2,436
Social Security + Medicare−$2,943
California income tax (approx.)−$2,693
Monthly take-home$2,533
Every two weeks$1,169

Does it go far here?

$35,359Median pay in Santa Maria, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 108.8 vs 100).
84%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,131 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Santa Maria, CA

JobMedian pay
Computer and Information Systems Managers$207,760
Lawyers$170,970
Managers, All Other$167,090
Financial Managers$164,270
Software Developers$158,290
Registered Nurses$137,360
Medical and Health Services Managers$130,290
Computer Occupations, All Other$128,390

All food preparation workers salaries · Take-home pay in California