Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker Salary in Santa Maria, CA
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median $45,230 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,136 take-home, or $3,095 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median landscaping and groundskeeping worker salary in Santa Maria, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,248
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,804
- Medicare (1.45%)$656
- California income tax$799
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$588
- Take-home pay$37,136
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker pay by experience in Santa Maria, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,990 | $17.30 | $30,201 | $2,517 |
| 25th percentile | $37,670 | $18.11 | $31,462 | $2,622 |
| Median (50th) | $45,230 | $21.75 | $37,136 | $3,095 |
| 75th percentile | $48,590 | $23.36 | $39,626 | $3,302 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,320 | $28.04 | $46,733 | $3,894 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,230 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 landscaping and groundskeeping worker's $37,136 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,133 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 2.0× the national concentration of landscaping and groundskeeping worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for landscaping and groundskeeping workers, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Maria, CA ranks #113 of 264 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $45,040 | $38,370 | $42,224 |
| 2 | Omaha, NE | $45,970 | $37,905 | $41,241 |
| 3 | Rochester, MN | $45,550 | $37,161 | $40,917 |
| 4 | St. Cloud, MN | $43,770 | $35,826 | $40,882 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $45,180 | $37,417 | $40,803 |
| 6 | Barnstable Town, MA | $49,010 | $39,329 | $39,988 |
| 7 | Appleton, WI | $44,380 | $36,668 | $39,675 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $46,190 | $37,204 | $39,119 |
| 113 | Santa Maria, CA | $45,230 | $37,136 | $34,133 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 264 metros →
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker salaries elsewhere in California
- Chico, CA — $45,150
- Visalia, CA — $44,140
- Modesto, CA — $45,740
- Bakersfield, CA — $43,770
- San Jose, CA — $48,330
- Santa Rosa, CA — $46,740
- Napa, CA — $48,540
- Salinas, CA — $46,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a landscaping and groundskeeping worker make in Santa Maria, CA?
The median landscaping and groundskeeping worker salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $45,230 a year, or about $21.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,670 and $48,590.
What is a landscaping and groundskeeping worker’s take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA?
On the median $45,230 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $37,136 a year ($3,095 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,387 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Maria, CA a good place to work as a landscaping and groundskeeping worker?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $39,150. Local prices are 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,133 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Maria, CA ranks #113 of 264 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a landscaping and groundskeeping 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) — 89% of a median landscaping and groundskeeping worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.