Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in Santa Maria, CA
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median $46,540 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,119 take-home, or $3,177 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in Santa Maria, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,405
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,885
- Medicare (1.45%)$675
- California income tax$851
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$605
- Take-home pay$38,119
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay by experience in Santa Maria, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,060 | $18.30 | $31,755 | $2,646 |
| 25th percentile | $44,560 | $21.42 | $36,633 | $3,053 |
| Median (50th) | $46,540 | $22.38 | $38,119 | $3,177 |
| 75th percentile | $51,160 | $24.60 | $41,503 | $3,459 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,390 | $27.59 | $46,054 | $3,838 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,540 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary's $38,119 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,036 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, except postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Maria, CA ranks #13 of 94 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $53,950 | $45,529 | $40,968 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $45,510 | $38,747 | $38,717 |
| 3 | Portland, ME | $48,770 | $39,256 | $38,540 |
| 4 | Modesto, CA | $47,990 | $39,187 | $37,641 |
| 5 | Visalia, CA | $45,230 | $37,136 | $37,201 |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $45,340 | $37,218 | $36,432 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $49,010 | $39,932 | $36,163 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $46,330 | $37,961 | $35,664 |
| 13 | Santa Maria, CA | $46,540 | $38,119 | $35,036 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 94 metros →
About the job: teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Typical education
- Some college, no degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salaries elsewhere in California
- Modesto, CA — $47,990
- Visalia, CA — $45,230
- Fresno, CA — $45,340
- San Jose, CA — $49,010
- Riverside, CA — $46,330
- Stockton, CA — $45,550
- Oxnard, CA — $47,860
- Sacramento, CA — $45,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Santa Maria, CA?
The median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $46,540 a year, or about $22.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,560 and $51,160.
What is a teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA?
On the median $46,540 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $38,119 a year ($3,177 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,456 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Maria, CA a good place to work as a teaching assistants, except postsecondary?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $36,780. Local prices are 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,036 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Maria, CA ranks #13 of 94 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, except postsecondary 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) — 86% of a median teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.