Carpenter Salary in Santa Maria, CA
Carpenters in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median $75,140 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,915 take-home, or $4,826 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Santa Maria, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,701
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,659
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,090
- California income tax$2,799
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$977
- Take-home pay$57,915
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Santa Maria, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,980 | $22.59 | $38,449 | $3,204 |
| 25th percentile | $58,240 | $28.00 | $46,675 | $3,890 |
| Median (50th) | $75,140 | $36.13 | $57,915 | $4,826 |
| 75th percentile | $83,630 | $40.21 | $63,029 | $5,252 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,640 | $50.79 | $76,179 | $6,348 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,140 buys in Santa Maria, CA
Prices in Santa Maria, CA are 8.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $57,915 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,232 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Santa Maria, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Maria, CA ranks #48 of 194 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | $65,132 | $70,088 |
| 2 | Peoria, IL | $75,280 | $58,208 | $63,803 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | $72,770 | $56,566 | $61,382 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $75,520 | $58,402 | $60,797 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $65,520 | $52,922 | $58,591 |
| 48 | Santa Maria, CA | $75,140 | $57,915 | $53,232 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $89,200
- Santa Rosa, CA — $80,520
- San Jose, CA — $80,190
- Modesto, CA — $73,730
- San Luis Obispo, CA — $77,220
- Napa, CA — $80,590
- Santa Cruz, CA — $77,690
- Vallejo, CA — $76,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Santa Maria, CA?
The median carpenter salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $75,140 a year, or about $36.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,240 and $83,630.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA?
On the median $75,140 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $57,915 a year ($4,826 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,776 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Maria, CA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,232 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Maria, CA ranks #48 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Santa Maria, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Maria, CA is $2,746 a month ($3,124 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Maria, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $89,190
- Electrician — $75,290
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $64,370
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,000
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $56,420
- Construction Laborer — $56,140