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

Medical Secretary Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

In the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metropolitan area, medical secretaries earned a median annual wage of $53,500 ($25.72/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,900/year and the 90th was $74,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $43,918 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 108.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$53,500$25.72 per hour · $4,458 monthly
10th Percentile$39,900$19.18/hr base
25th Percentile$45,800$22.02/hr base
75th Percentile$62,200$29.90/hr base
90th Percentile$74,700$35.91/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

$53,500
$20,000$110,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$53,500
Net 82%
Fed 8%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$43,918After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,660Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,689Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,240 / yr
California state income tax$1,250 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,093 / yr

Medical 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 Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$19.18/hr$3,325$39,900$33,661
25th Percentile$22.02/hr$3,817$45,800$38,166
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$25.72/hr$4,458$53,500$43,918
75th Percentile$29.90/hr$5,183$62,200$50,386
90th Percentile$35.91/hr$6,225$74,700$58,631

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

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$53,500 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 Ratio54.5%of area median income

Compare medical secretaries salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

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

What is the median salary for medical secretaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for medical secretaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $53,500, which equates to approximately $4,458 per month or $25.72 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for medical secretaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

The median hourly wage for medical secretaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $25.72 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $19.18/hour and one in ten earned more than $35.91/hour.

What is the pay range for medical secretaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

BLS wage estimates for medical secretaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA span from $39,900 at the 10th percentile to $45,800 at the 25th, $62,200 at the 75th, and $74,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do medical secretaries take home after taxes in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

On a median gross salary of $53,500, an estimated $43,918 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,689 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $9,582 (an effective rate of 17.9%).

How much do medical secretaries make per month in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

On the median annual salary of $53,500, gross monthly income is $4,458. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,660 per month (or $1,689 every two weeks).

Is $53,500 a good salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

At $53,500, the median salary for medical secretaries is 54.5% 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.