SOC 25-1124 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary — Santa Maria
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · 7 metro areas compared
In Santa Maria, CA the median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary reaches $103,190 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Santa Maria, CA the median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary reaches $103,190 a year. That is 30.0% more than the national median of $79,350. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $79,690 and $180,520. The lowest tenth earn under $62,940, while the highest tenth earn more than $324,690.
Employment stands at 50, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Riverside leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $171,660. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 101st of 433 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,940 | −20.7% |
| 25th | $79,690 | +0.4% |
| Median (50th) | $103,190 | +30.0% |
| 75th | $180,520 | +127.5% |
| 90th | $324,690 | +309.2% |
| Mean | $134,910 | +70.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside | $171,660 | 130 | |
| 2 | Fresno | $167,160 | 70 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $125,980 | 130 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $115,040 | 240 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $106,050 | 200 | |
| 6 | San Jose | $96,550 | 190 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $83,310 | 800 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Maria run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $103,190 buys what $93,216 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$103,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$93,216US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $103,190 a year, 30.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $62,940 to $324,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Riverside, at $171,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Santa Maria, CA?
The median annual wage is $103,190, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $79,350, so pay in Santa Maria, CA is 30.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Santa Maria, CA earns more than $324,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $62,940 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Riverside, at $171,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Santa Maria, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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