Project Management Specialist Salary in Santa Maria, CA
Project Management Specialists in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median $106,250 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,544 take-home, or $6,379 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in Santa Maria, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,545
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,588
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,541
- California income tax$5,652
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,381
- Take-home pay$76,544
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Project Management Specialist pay by experience in Santa Maria, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,970 | $28.35 | $47,208 | $3,934 |
| 25th percentile | $78,500 | $37.74 | $59,963 | $4,997 |
| Median (50th) | $106,250 | $51.08 | $76,544 | $6,379 |
| 75th percentile | $133,460 | $64.16 | $92,569 | $7,714 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,210 | $81.35 | $113,214 | $9,435 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,250 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 project management specialist's $76,544 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,354 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Project Management Specialist jobs are less concentrated in Santa Maria, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Maria, CA ranks #167 of 209 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peoria, IL | $123,730 | $89,856 | $98,492 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $125,940 | $97,346 | $97,269 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | $100,381 | $90,325 |
| 4 | Huntsville, AL | $112,130 | $82,372 | $88,503 |
| 5 | Beaumont, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $88,300 |
| 6 | Davenport, IA | $102,880 | $77,948 | $87,505 |
| 7 | Rochester, MN | $106,270 | $77,888 | $85,760 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $122,040 | $90,019 | $85,568 |
| 167 | Santa Maria, CA | $106,250 | $76,544 | $70,354 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 209 metros →
Project Management Specialist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $135,120
- Sacramento, CA — $124,350
- San Francisco, CA — $135,040
- Bakersfield, CA — $104,580
- San Diego, CA — $117,460
- Fresno, CA — $101,030
- San Luis Obispo, CA — $108,730
- Stockton, CA — $104,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in Santa Maria, CA?
The median project management specialist salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $106,250 a year, or about $51.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,500 and $133,460.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA?
On the median $106,250 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $76,544 a year ($6,379 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,033 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Maria, CA a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,354 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Maria, CA ranks #167 of 209 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist 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) — 43% of a median project management specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Maria, CA
- Management Analyst — $99,990
- Accountant and Auditor — $91,610
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $89,340
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $82,040
- Human Resources Specialist — $80,340
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $79,710
- Training and Development Specialist — $75,890