PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
LVN-SNF
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Maria, CA
$33.18–$41.44/ hour
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Santa Maria, CA
The median licensed practical nurse pay in the Santa Maria area is $36.85 per hour ($76,640 a year), with the typical range running from $33.58 to $39.25. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Santa Maria. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Santa Maria. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Maria.
- $36.85median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $34–$39typical range per hour
- 740licensed practical nurses employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Santa Maria
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Get my free pay reportLicensed Practical Nurse pay in Santa Maria, CA
The metro median is 1% below the California statewide median of $37.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 740 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.89).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.11 | $64,710 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $33.58 | $69,850 | 12% above U.S. median |
| Median | $36.85 | $76,640 | 23% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $39.25 | $81,640 | 31% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $46.94 | $97,640 | 57% above U.S. median |
How Santa Maria ranks
- 23rd of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 57th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 11th of 24 California metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Santa Maria
- Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $36.85 median hour buys what $33.87 buys at the national price level, 13% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Santa Maria paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,327
- Per year: $66,330
- Per month: $5,528
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Maria
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $214 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,142 |
| 13-week assignment | $27,846 |
Travel licensed practical nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Santa Maria
CMS lists 1 hospital in Santa Maria, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marian Regional Medical Center Santa Maria, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Santa Barbara County
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara County (1 population-group, 8 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 18 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Licensed Practical Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara, CA | 55 mi | $36.85/hr | 87,291 |
| San Buenaventura, CA | 82 mi | $36.84/hr | 109,831 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 85 mi | $35.86/hr | 417,468 |
| Oxnard, CA | 87 mi | $36.84/hr | 200,616 |
| Delano, CA | 88 mi | $35.86/hr | 53,198 |
| Camarillo, CA | 94 mi | $36.84/hr | 69,881 |
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in California · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Maria
Santa Maria city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do licensed practical nurses make in Santa Maria, CA?
Licensed Practical Nurses in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $36.85 per hour, about $76,640 a year. The middle half earn between $33.58 and $39.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Maria a good place for licensed practical nurses once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 57th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 23rd of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring licensed practical nurses in Santa Maria?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Santa Maria. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santa Maria.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Maria as a licensed practical nurse?
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Santa Maria in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Santa Maria?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Maria is $214 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,142 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place licensed practical nurses in Santa Maria?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Maria and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Maria.
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What do employers near Santa Maria pay licensed practical nurses? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your LPN / LVN pay reportSanta Maria, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- CommonSpirit HealthWOODLAND, CA · 5 postings$41.23/ hr$31–$51
- Enloe Medical CenterChico, CA · 2 postings$40.37/ hr$34–$48
- Veterans Health AdministrationSan Francisco, CA · 8 postings$39.44/ hr$27–$57
- AccentCarePetaluma, CA · 2 postings$36.94/ hr$23–$47
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$28Median$35.27High$44
73 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in California, 67 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 73 LPN / LVN roles
- Vocational Nurse (Wound Care)Permanent$91k–$118k/ year
- LVNPermanent$45.27–$51.06/ hour
+ 71 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.