School Psychologist salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
School Psychologists in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $128,110 a year ($61.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $104,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,550 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $95,990. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $127,780. There are 0.55 school psychologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $129,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for school psychologists in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,620 | $50.30 |
| 25th percentile | $117,160 | $56.33 |
| Median | $128,110 | $61.59 |
| 75th percentile | $141,060 | $67.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,550 | $75.74 |
| Average (mean) | $129,770 | $62.39 |
Half of school psychologists 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 | $10,675.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,337.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,927.31 |
| Weekly | $2,463.65 |
| Hourly | $61.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $128,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
School Psychologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $145,400 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $139,400 | 760 |
| Merced, CA | $133,230 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $131,920 | 460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $131,070 | 850 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,540 | 680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $130,520 | 260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $129,610 | 220 |
| Modesto, CA | $128,750 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $128,630 | 200 |
| Visalia, CA | $128,020 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $126,710 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $126,430 | 170 |
| Yuba City, CA | $125,860 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $124,980 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $123,920 | 400 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $122,450 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $122,390 | 3,060 |
| Vallejo, CA | $121,340 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for school psychologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $127,780 |
| Colorado | $124,770 |
| New Mexico | $110,360 |
| Maryland | $109,700 |
| Washington | $108,780 |
| District of Columbia | $107,500 |
| New York | $106,550 |
| Oregon | $106,070 |
| Connecticut | $100,600 |
| Georgia | $99,110 |
See School Psychologist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $102,120 | $49.10 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $105,500 | $50.72 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $87,260 | $41.95 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $128,620 | $61.84 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,510 | $30.05 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $105,230 | $50.59 |
| Chemist | $85,930 | $41.31 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $124,840 | $60.02 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $66,340 | $31.90 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,610 | $27.70 |
| Biological Technician | $66,110 | $31.79 |
| Conservation Scientist | $78,340 | $37.66 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science 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 19-3034. 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 school psychologist make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for school psychologists in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $128,110 a year, or $61.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $104,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school psychologists make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of school psychologists in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $157,550 a year. The top 25% earn $141,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for school psychologists in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $104,620 a year, and a quarter of school psychologists earn $117,160 or less.
How many school psychologists work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 110 school psychologists are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.