Senior Software Engineer salary in Santa Maria, CA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, La Jolla, Ste. 100.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $156,229 |
| 25th | $158,115 |
| 50th (median) | $160,659 |
| 75th | $169,500 |
| 90th | $185,606 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $115,000 | $100,000 | $130,000 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $119,000 | $111,197 | $131,250 | 16 |
| FY2022 | $127,000 | $110,000 | $145,000 | 21 |
| FY2023 | $134,000 | $125,986 | $145,000 | 13 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 5 |
Cost of living
Santa Maria's median senior Software Engineer salary of $160,659 is worth about $147,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Santa Maria = 108.8).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Santa Maria, CA area earned a median of $158,290 in May 2025 (1,680 employed). The H-1B median here is $160,659, 1% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $120,000 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $150,218 | 21 |
| Senior · Level III | $160,659 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $198,000 | 14 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $106,621 | $120,000 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $132,350 | $150,218 | 21 |
| Senior · Level III | $156,229 | $160,659 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $180,128 | $198,000 | 14 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.