Travel Agent salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Travel Agents in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $55,260 a year ($26.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,940 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $50,160. Pay here is 8% higher than the California statewide median of $51,030. There are 0.22 travel agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $57,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for travel agents in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| 25th percentile | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| Median | $55,260 | $26.57 |
| 75th percentile | $61,880 | $29.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,940 | $37.47 |
| Average (mean) | $57,930 | $27.85 |
Half of travel agents 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 | $4,605 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,302.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,125.38 |
| Weekly | $1,062.69 |
| Hourly | $26.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $55,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Travel Agent salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,760 | 290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,000 | 630 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,760 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $50,440 | 2,160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $49,650 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,240 | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,890 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,970 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,440 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for travel agents
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $63,400 |
| District of Columbia | $61,560 |
| Montana | $61,330 |
| New Jersey | $61,090 |
| Connecticut | $60,640 |
| Vermont | $60,560 |
| Rhode Island | $59,790 |
| Oregon | $56,810 |
| Utah | $56,670 |
| Colorado | $56,570 |
See Travel Agent pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $83,990 | $40.38 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $62,360 | $29.98 |
| Retail Salesperson | $37,200 | $17.89 |
| Cashier | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $51,930 | $24.97 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $74,300 | $35.72 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $44,520 | $21.41 |
| Parts Salesperson | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $51,830 | $24.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $74,980 | $36.05 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $58,000 | $27.88 |
More: Sales and Related 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 41-3041. 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 travel agent make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for travel agents in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $55,260 a year, or $26.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid travel agents make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of travel agents in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $77,940 a year. The top 25% earn $61,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for travel agents in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,190 a year, and a quarter of travel agents earn $46,360 or less.
How many travel agents work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 40 travel agents are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.