SOC 27-3043 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Writers and Authors — Santa Maria
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $74,820, median pay for Writers and Authors in Santa Maria, CA tracks the national median of $76,910 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $74,820, median pay for Writers and Authors in Santa Maria, CA tracks the national median of $76,910 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $51,730 and $100,740. The lowest tenth earn under $44,230, while the highest tenth earn more than $139,240.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $118,810. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 196th of 433 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,230 | −42.5% |
| 25th | $51,730 | −32.7% |
| Median (50th) | $74,820 | −2.7% |
| 75th | $100,740 | +31.0% |
| 90th | $139,240 | +81.0% |
| Mean | $84,700 | +10.1% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $118,810 | 400 | |
| 2 | Santa Rosa | $107,700 | 50 | |
| 3 | San Luis Obispo | $86,340 | 30 | |
| 4 | Oxnard | $82,920 | 70 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $82,690 | 240 | |
| 6 | San Diego | $82,590 | 350 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $78,990 | 190 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $77,250 | — | |
| 9 | Fresno | $77,060 | 70 | |
| 10 | Bakersfield | $73,600 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Maria run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $74,820 buys what $67,588 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$74,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,588US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $74,820 a year, 2.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,230 to $139,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $118,810.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Writers and Authors in Santa Maria, CA?
The median annual wage is $74,820, or $35.97 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 $76,910, so pay in Santa Maria, CA is 2.7% lower. 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 $139,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,230 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 $118,810 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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