SOC 51-9023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Santa Maria
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Maria, CA comes to $58,140 a year, ahead of the national median of $48,990 by 18.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Maria, CA comes to $58,140 a year, ahead of the national median of $48,990 by 18.7%. Pay ranges from under $34,780 at the tenth percentile to more than $83,750 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,230 to $64,270.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Sacramento records the highest median at $75,790. Of the 433 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 274th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,780 | −29.0% |
| 25th | $48,230 | −1.6% |
| Median (50th) | $58,140 | +18.7% |
| 75th | $64,270 | +31.2% |
| 90th | $83,750 | +71.0% |
| Mean | $60,730 | +24.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento | $75,790 | 310 | |
| 2 | Bakersfield | $62,390 | 160 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $60,720 | 510 | |
| 4 | Merced | $57,250 | 50 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $56,460 | 100 | |
| 6 | San Jose | $53,860 | 180 | |
| 7 | San Diego | $50,340 | 310 | |
| 8 | Modesto | $49,960 | 200 | |
| 9 | Stockton | $49,860 | 120 | |
| 10 | Fresno | $48,900 | 260 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Maria run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $58,140 buys what $52,520 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 7.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$58,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,520US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,140 a year, 18.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,780 to $83,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sacramento, at $75,790.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Santa Maria, CA?
The median annual wage is $58,140, or $27.95 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 $48,990, so pay in Santa Maria, CA is 18.7% 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 $83,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,780 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 Sacramento, at $75,790 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 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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