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

Teaching Assistant Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

In the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metropolitan area, teaching assistants earned a median annual wage of $45,700 ($21.97/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,600/year and the 90th was $58,500/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $38,089 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 108.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$45,700$21.97 per hour · $3,808 monthly
10th Percentile$36,600$17.60/hr base
25th Percentile$38,900$18.70/hr base
75th Percentile$48,700$23.41/hr base
90th Percentile$58,500$28.13/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

$45,700
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$45,700
Net 83%
Fed 7%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$38,089After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,174Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,465Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,304 / yr
California state income tax$811 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,496 / yr

Teaching 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 Teaching Assistants in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$17.60/hr$3,050$36,600$31,141
25th Percentile$18.70/hr$3,242$38,900$32,897
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$21.97/hr$3,808$45,700$38,089
75th Percentile$23.41/hr$4,058$48,700$40,349
90th Percentile$28.13/hr$4,875$58,500$47,635

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

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$45,700 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 Ratio46.6%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching Assistants Pay in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

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

The official BLS median annual wage for teaching assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $45,700, which equates to approximately $3,808 per month or $21.97 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

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

The median hourly wage for teaching assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $21.97 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.60/hour and one in ten earned more than $28.13/hour.

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

BLS wage estimates for teaching assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA span from $36,600 at the 10th percentile to $38,900 at the 25th, $48,700 at the 75th, and $58,500 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $45,700, an estimated $38,089 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,465 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,611 (an effective rate of 16.7%).

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

On the median annual salary of $45,700, gross monthly income is $3,808. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,174 per month (or $1,465 every two weeks).

Is $45,700 a good salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

At $45,700, the median salary for teaching assistants is 46.6% 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.