Food Preparation Worker Salary in Santa Maria, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median $38,470 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,062 take-home, or $2,672 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Santa Maria, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,436
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,385
- Medicare (1.45%)$558
- California income tax$528
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$500
- Take-home pay$32,062
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Santa Maria, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,840 | $16.75 | $29,338 | $2,445 |
| 25th percentile | $36,110 | $17.36 | $30,291 | $2,524 |
| Median (50th) | $38,470 | $18.50 | $32,062 | $2,672 |
| 75th percentile | $43,550 | $20.94 | $35,875 | $2,990 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,690 | $23.41 | $39,699 | $3,308 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,470 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 food preparation worker's $32,062 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,470 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 food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Maria, CA ranks #126 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 126 | Santa Maria, CA | $38,470 | $32,062 | $29,470 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $45,580
- Merced, CA — $38,980
- Santa Rosa, CA — $42,640
- Napa, CA — $42,810
- Visalia, CA — $37,020
- Chico, CA — $37,510
- Fresno, CA — $37,730
- Modesto, CA — $38,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Santa Maria, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $38,470 a year, or about $18.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,110 and $43,550.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA?
On the median $38,470 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,062 a year ($2,672 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,028 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Maria, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,470 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Maria, CA ranks #126 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 103% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Maria, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $65,060
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,320
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,340
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,940
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,700
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,740
- Dishwasher — $37,290
- Bartender — $35,810
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,620
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,260
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,110