Physical Scientists, All Other Salary in Santa Maria, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Median annual salary $147,320 +24.9% vs national
Median hourly $70.83
10th percentile $107,850
90th percentile $204,400
Employed locally 30
National median $117,960

Compare Physical Scientists, All Other salary & buying power

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Physical Scientists, All Other
in
Santa Maria, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $107,850
    25th
    $124,240
    50th (median)
    $147,320
    75th
    $184,720
    90th
    $204,400

    Santa Maria economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $95,977 2023 • Census ACS
    Physical Scientists, All Other salary vs area income 153% Median Physical Scientists, All Other salary is 53% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physical Scientists, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $174,810
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $170,960
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $168,870
    Minnesota $167,110
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $162,610
    District of Columbia $157,980

    Nearby metros — Physical Scientists, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $174,810
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $141,980
    South Carolina $134,430
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $132,750
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $132,490
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA $132,270

    Related occupations in Santa Maria, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $105,750
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $131,170
    Biological Scientists, All Other $111,220
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $100,240
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $95,100
    Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other $92,790

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physical Scientists, All Other make per hour in Santa Maria?

    The median hourly wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in Santa Maria, CA is $70.83, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $98.27 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Maria above or below average for Physical Scientists, All Other salaries?

    The median Physical Scientists, All Other salary in Santa Maria, CA is 24.9% above the national median of $117,960. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physical Scientists, All Other in Santa Maria?

    Entry-level Physical Scientists, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $107,850 per year in Santa Maria, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $124,240.