The median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $37,180 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $39,900.
Pay spans roughly $34,130 at the 10th percentile to $47,670 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $17.88 per hour. An estimated 1,390 people work as food preparation workers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA.
| Median (annual) | $37,180 |
| Mean (annual) | $39,900 |
| Median (hourly) | $17.88 |
| 10th percentile | $34,130 |
| 90th percentile | $47,670 |
| Employment | 1,390 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.