Software Developer Salary in Santa Maria, CA
Software Developers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median $158,290 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $106,908 take-home, or $8,909 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Santa Maria, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,724
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,814
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,295
- California income tax$10,491
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,058
- Take-home pay$106,908
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Santa Maria, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,670 | $47.92 | $72,612 | $6,051 |
| 25th percentile | $127,490 | $61.29 | $89,121 | $7,427 |
| Median (50th) | $158,290 | $76.10 | $106,908 | $8,909 |
| 75th percentile | $173,660 | $83.49 | $115,784 | $9,649 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,750 | $103.73 | $141,887 | $11,824 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $158,290 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 software developer's $106,908 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,263 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are less concentrated in Santa Maria, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Maria, CA ranks #53 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 53 | Santa Maria, CA | $158,290 | $106,908 | $98,263 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $213,110
- San Francisco, CA — $186,640
- San Diego, CA — $163,270
- Oxnard, CA — $159,430
- Santa Cruz, CA — $156,910
- Los Angeles, CA — $160,920
- Santa Rosa, CA — $148,630
- Stockton, CA — $138,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Santa Maria, CA?
The median software developer salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $158,290 a year, or about $76.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $127,490 and $173,660.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA?
On the median $158,290 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $106,908 a year ($8,909 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,549 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Maria, CA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,263 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Maria, CA ranks #53 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 31% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Maria, CA
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $128,390
- Computer Systems Analyst — $120,680
- Computer User Support Specialist — $80,520