Healthcare jobs and pay in Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara healthcare pay by profession, from the BLS metro-area wage data, with cost of living, hospitals and what travel assignments pay here. Registered nurses earn a median of $64.17 per hour. The free report adds named employers and open roles.
What healthcare pays in Santa Barbara
| Profession | Median / hr | Typical range / hr | Median / year | Employed in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $64.17 | $54–$69 | $133,470 | 3,140 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $36.85 | $34–$39 | $76,640 | 740 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | $22.21 | $19–$23 | $46,190 | 1,140 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $82.28 | $71–$83 | $171,150 | 210 |
| CRNA | $115+ | $49–$115+ | $239,200+ | — |
| Radiologic Technologist | $51.44 | $46–$64 | $106,990 | 260 |
| CT Technologist | $51.44 | $46–$64 | $106,990 | 260 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $50.43 | $46–$63 | $104,890 | 100 |
| Surgical Technologist | $37.63 | $33–$39 | $78,270 | 130 |
| Physical Therapist | $58.33 | $49–$68 | $121,330 | 290 |
| Occupational Therapist | $57.65 | $51–$64 | $119,920 | 140 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $61.87 | $51–$69 | $128,700 | 160 |
| Medical Coder | $27.15 | $22–$36 | $56,470 | 200 |
| CDI Specialist | $40.36 | $27–$66 | $83,940 | 50 |
| Utilization Review Nurse | $64.17 | $54–$69 | $133,470 | 3,140 |
| Telehealth / Triage Nurse | $64.17 | $54–$69 | $133,470 | 3,140 |
| Patient Access Representative | $20.00 | $18–$22 | $41,600 | 1,020 |
| EHR / Epic Analyst | $59.66 | $48–$72 | $124,090 | 650 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | $39.53 | $34–$53 | $82,220 | 390 |
| Pharmacist | $79.72 | $73–$89 | $165,810 | 260 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $23.62 | $21–$31 | $49,130 | 470 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | $24.46 | $21–$35 | $50,870 | 280 |
| Phlebotomist | $29.50 | $24–$33 | $61,350 | 250 |
| Nurse Informaticist | $64.17 | $54–$69 | $133,470 | 3,140 |
| Healthcare IT Support Specialist | $37.62 | $32–$39 | $78,260 | 950 |
| Biomedical Equipment Technician | $31.29 | $24–$42 | $65,070 | 70 |
| MRI Technologist | $58.88 | $45–$70 | $122,470 | — |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $67.78 | $58–$69 | $140,980 | 90 |
| Echocardiography Technologist | $30.36 | $28–$30 | $63,150 | 100 |
| Cath Lab Technologist | $30.36 | $28–$30 | $63,150 | 100 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $74.62 | $62–$81 | $155,220 | — |
| Physician Assistant | $72.52 | $65–$81 | $150,840 | 130 |
| Nurse Case Manager | $64.17 | $54–$69 | $133,470 | 3,140 |
| Nurse Manager & Leadership | $62.95 | $40–$89 | $130,930 | 700 |
| Registered Dietitian | $47.85 | $39–$49 | $99,530 | 100 |
| Clinical Social Worker | $44.92 | $31–$51 | $93,430 | 190 |
| Medical Assistant | $23.90 | $22–$28 | $49,710 | 1,390 |
| Sterile Processing Technician | $25.11 | $22–$29 | $52,220 | 60 |
| Medical Biller | $23.80 | $22–$28 | $49,500 | 380 |
| Dentist | $59.83 | $58–$87 | $124,450 | 190 |
| Dental Hygienist | $63.47 | $61–$70 | $132,010 | 280 |
| Dental Assistant | $23.83 | $22–$30 | $49,570 | 590 |
| Dental Office Manager | $62.95 | $40–$89 | $130,930 | 700 |
| Dental Front Office & Treatment Coordinator | $23.24 | $21–$27 | $48,330 | 930 |
| Dental Lab Technician | $22.82 | $19–$30 | $47,460 | 60 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area (statewide where the metro figure is not published). Pick a profession for the full pay breakdown, rankings and open roles.
Cost of living in Santa Barbara
- Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8).
- Housing runs 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Barbara
The federal per diem benchmark for travel assignments in Santa Barbara is $214 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,142 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on your tax home. See the travel pay calculator.
Hospitals in Santa Barbara
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Cities near Santa Barbara
| City | Distance | RN median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Buenaventura, CA | 28 mi | $61.79/hr | 109,831 |
| Oxnard, CA | 32 mi | $61.79/hr | 200,616 |
| Camarillo, CA | 41 mi | $61.79/hr | 69,881 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 mi | $61.79/hr | 124,229 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 55 mi | $64.17/hr | 111,346 |
| Simi Valley, CA | 56 mi | $61.79/hr | 125,778 |
Common questions
How much do healthcare workers make in Santa Barbara?
Registered nurses in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area earn a median of $64.17 per hour, about $133,470 a year (BLS, May 2024). The table above lists 45 professions with their own medians and ranges.
How many hospitals are in Santa Barbara?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, California.
Does Valorem Health place staff in Santa Barbara?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Barbara and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Barbara.
What do employers near Santa Barbara pay? 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
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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Your RN pay reportSanta Barbara, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$108.25/ hr$94–$123
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 16 postings$106.18/ hr$59–$119
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 8 postings$103.75/ hr$90–$113
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 7 postings$85.12/ hr$73–$111
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
536 RN postings with published pay in California, 518 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 536 RN roles
- RN Float PoolPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
- RN Physical RehabilitationPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
+ 534 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.