SOC 27-1024 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Graphic Designers — Santa Maria
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Maria, CA comes to $78,500 a year, ahead of the national median of $62,960 by 24.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Maria, CA comes to $78,500 a year, ahead of the national median of $62,960 by 24.7%. Pay ranges from under $49,350 at the tenth percentile to more than $127,920 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $60,740 to $98,690.
The area has 210 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.80 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $97,360. Of the 433 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 176th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,350 | −21.6% |
| 25th | $60,740 | −3.5% |
| Median (50th) | $78,500 | +24.7% |
| 75th | $98,690 | +56.8% |
| 90th | $127,920 | +103.2% |
| Mean | $84,370 | +34.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $97,360 | 1,280 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $92,050 | 3,870 | |
| 3 | Napa | $79,090 | 60 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $75,750 | 210 | |
| 5 | Vallejo | $74,800 | 90 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $74,680 | 920 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $72,400 | 13,810 | |
| 8 | Modesto | $69,110 | 140 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $67,300 | 390 | |
| 10 | Salinas | $66,940 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Maria run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $78,500 buys what $70,912 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$78,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$70,912US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,500 a year, 24.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,350 to $127,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $97,360.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Graphic Designers in Santa Maria, CA?
The median annual wage is $78,500, or $37.74 per hour, 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 $62,960, so pay in Santa Maria, CA is 24.7% 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 $127,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,350 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 San Jose, at $97,360 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 210 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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