Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $46,540 a year, based on BLS data for 2,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,390 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $36,780. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $46,490. There are 12 teaching assistants, except postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,060 |
| 25th percentile | $44,560 |
| Median | $46,540 |
| 75th percentile | $51,160 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,390 |
| Average (mean) | $47,640 |
Half of teaching assistants, except postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,878.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,939.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,790 |
| Weekly | $895 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because teaching assistants, except postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,360 | 18,710 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $49,010 | 7,240 |
| Napa, CA | $48,450 | 530 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $48,270 | 1,930 |
| Vallejo, CA | $48,200 | 1,630 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,030 | 2,290 |
| Modesto, CA | $47,990 | 3,470 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,860 | 3,870 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,430 | 1,060 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,440 | 13,260 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $46,410 | 1,270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,330 | 22,500 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,240 | 53,010 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,990 | 11,110 |
| Yuba City, CA | $45,880 | 1,220 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,780 | 1,080 |
| Chico, CA | $45,660 | 1,220 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $45,550 | 3,500 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,340 | 6,530 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,230 | 2,760 |
| Merced, CA | $44,680 | 1,950 |
| Redding, CA | $44,430 | 1,030 |
| El Centro, CA | $43,970 | 1,110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $38,930 | 6,040 |
Highest-paying states for teaching assistants, except postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,120 |
| District of Columbia | $46,920 |
| Maine | $46,750 |
| California | $46,490 |
| Vermont | $43,800 |
| Minnesota | $40,100 |
| Oregon | $39,850 |
| Massachusetts | $39,380 |
| Virginia | $38,520 |
| New Hampshire | $38,440 |
See Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $48,930 | $23.52 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $50,310 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $95,790 | $46.05 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,030 | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $71,200 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,840 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $62,310 | $29.96 |
| Tutor | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $78,820 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $98,940 | — |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $102,450 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $80,100 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-9045. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $46,540 a year. Pay ranges from $38,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of teaching assistants, except postsecondary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $57,390 a year. The top 25% earn $51,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,060 a year, and a quarter of teaching assistants, except postsecondary earn $44,560 or less.
How many teaching assistants, except postsecondary work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 2,360 teaching assistants, except postsecondary are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.