Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Administrative Assistant Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

In the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metropolitan area, administrative assistants earned a median annual wage of $54,400 ($26.15/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,400/year and the 90th was $76,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $44,587 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 108.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$54,400$26.15 per hour · $4,533 monthly
10th Percentile$37,400$17.98/hr base
25th Percentile$45,600$21.92/hr base
75th Percentile$64,300$30.91/hr base
90th Percentile$76,800$36.92/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$54,400
$20,000$110,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$54,400
Net 82%
Fed 8%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$44,587After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,716Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,715Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,348 / yr
California state income tax$1,304 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,162 / yr

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Wage Percentiles in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$17.98/hr$3,117$37,400$31,752
25th Percentile$21.92/hr$3,800$45,600$38,013
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$26.15/hr$4,533$54,400$44,587
75th Percentile$30.91/hr$5,358$64,300$51,926
90th Percentile$36.92/hr$6,400$76,800$59,940

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$54,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$98,161Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index108.88.8% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio55.4%of area median income

Compare administrative assistants salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Pay in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

What is the median salary for administrative assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for administrative assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $54,400, which equates to approximately $4,533 per month or $26.15 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for administrative assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

The median hourly wage for administrative assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $26.15 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.98/hour and one in ten earned more than $36.92/hour.

What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

BLS wage estimates for administrative assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA span from $37,400 at the 10th percentile to $45,600 at the 25th, $64,300 at the 75th, and $76,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do administrative assistants take home after taxes in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

On a median gross salary of $54,400, an estimated $44,587 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,715 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $9,813 (an effective rate of 18%).

How much do administrative assistants make per month in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

On the median annual salary of $54,400, gross monthly income is $4,533. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,716 per month (or $1,715 every two weeks).

Is $54,400 a good salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

At $54,400, the median salary for administrative assistants is 55.4% of the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA median household income ($98,161). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 108.8, making regional consumer goods and services 8.8% more expensive than the U.S. average.