Santa Maria Sun Salary

As of September 2026, the average annual salary for employees at Santa Maria Sun in the United States is $96,577. This translates to an approximate hourly wage of $46. Salaries at Santa Maria Sun typically range from $84,983 to $109,160 annually, reflecting the diverse roles and experience levels within the company.

How Much Does Santa Maria Sun Pay for Different Roles?

Explore detailed salary information for specific jobs at Santa Maria Sun. Based on our data, the highest paying job is the Advertising Executive, with an annual salary of $246,928. The table below outlines the annual salary ranges for most popular roles within the company.
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Is Santa Maria Sun’s Pay Competitive? Salary Benchmarking Analysis

How does Santa Maria Sun's compensation stack up against the industry and its key competitors? Our salary benchmarking analysis provides a clear comparison. The chart below visualizes this comparison alongside select peer companies.
Competitor / Benchmark Avg. Salary Variance Primary Market Influence Factor & Explanation
Tiger Newspaper $103,159
+6.8%
Reflects a supply-demand imbalance for the specific talent Tiger Newspaper targets.
Arizona Calendar Inc $85,850
-11.1%
Arizona Calendar Inc operates with a leaner overhead structure, impacting base wage offers.
Insite Publishing $86,008
-10.9%
Normalized for lower cost-of-living zones where Insite Publishing primarily operates.
E3W Media Inc $108,992
+12.9%
Data suggests E3W Media Inc's workforce skews heavily towards veteran, high-tenure roles.
Media Industry $125,523
+30.0%
Pay variances are driven by organizational scale, specialized skill requirements, or geographic cost-of-living factors.
Need More Granular Data? The analysis above provides a high-level market overview. To benchmark specific job codes, adjust for real-time cost-of-living changes, or access verified HR-reported datasets, upgrade to Salary.com for Business. Precision matters when building your compensation strategy.

Employee Reviews: Working at Santa Maria Sun

Considering a career at Santa Maria Sun? Explore authentic employee reviews to learn about the work environment, career growth opportunities, pay transparency and benefits. These first-hand insights can help you set realistic compensation expectations and make informed career decisions.
I look forward to coming to work and contributing to impactful projects. They provide clear direction and constructive feedback while trusting me to own my projects. You’ll build solid experience, and it is necessarily stretch your creative skills often. This is a place where innovation, collaboration, and inclusion come together.
This significant investment in our capabilities is greatly valued and appreciated by the entire creative team. Leadership is accessible and encourages experimentation. Leadership maintains an open culture where ideas can come from anywhere in the organization.
The culture encourages curiosity, collaboration, and balance. Training exists but varies by department. The career growth opportunities are exceptional, across various divisions – from news to entertainment to advertising – there are countless pathways for advancement. The workplace culture promotes diversity and inclusivity, fostering collaboration and mutual respect among employees. Excellent me...

Santa Maria Sun Overview

Website
www.santamariasun.com
Founded In
2000
Employees
<25 employees
Industry
Media
Headquarter Address
2540 Skyway Dr Santa Maria California CA 93455
Revenue
<$5 Million
Phone Number
+1 8053471968
Social Media
About Santa Maria Sun
Santa Maria Sun Classifieds is home to all your Cars, Jobs, Homes, Rentals, Pets, Merchandise, Garage Sales, Announcements, and Services ads. The Sun has been publishing for over 11 years and is the largest circulated paper in the region, covering local news and entertainment each week.

What Benefits Does Santa Maria Sun Offer Beyond Salary?

A competitive compensation package is more than just a salary. Santa Maria Sun offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being. Below are the most common key benefits:
Social Security
401(K)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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How Much Should You Be Earning?

Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options.

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What Is the Cost of Living Near Santa Maria?

Understanding the cost of living near Santa Maria is key to truly evaluating a salary offer or your current compensation at Santa Maria Sun.
Santa Maria's Cost of Living Index is approximately 121.7 (21.7% more expensive than US average; 12.9% less than CA average). Central Coast agricultural area, more affordable than Santa Barbara/SLO, housing above US avg. When planning your budget based on a salary from Santa Maria Sun, consider these typical monthly expenses:
Expense Category Estimated Monthly Cost Key Considerations / Notes
Housing (1-BR Apt Rent) $1,600 - $2,300+ A significant portion of Santa Maria Sun salary. Location choices impact this heavily.
Utilities (Basic) $180 - $290 Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water etc.
Public Transportation $38 (SMAT monthly pass) Essential for most commuters; car ownership is costly.
Groceries (Single Person) $430 - $630 Can be higher with more dining out or specialty stores.
Personal & Leisure $350 - $650+ Dining out, entertainment, shopping. Highly variable.
Healthcare (Individual) $370 - $690+ Varies significantly by plan & employer contribution.
Subtotal (Excluding Taxes) $2,968 - $4,568+ This subtotal does not include income taxes (federal, state, local), which can significantly impact your take-home pay.

FAQs of Santa Maria Sun

1. What is the typical salary range (low to high) for most roles at Santa Maria Sun?

The typical annual salary range for most roles at Santa Maria Sun is approximately from $84,983 to $109,160. It's important to remember that these are overall averages, actual salaries vary significantly based on specific job titles, years of experience, skills, and location.

2. How much does Santa Maria Sun pay compared to Tiger Newspaper?

The average annual salary at Santa Maria Sun is $96,577, or an hourly wage of $46, in comparison to Tiger Newspaper which pays $103,159 per year or $50 per hour.

3. Do salaries differ significantly between departments at Santa Maria Sun?

Yes, salaries often differ between departments at Santa Maria Sun due to varying market demand for specific skill sets and the nature of the roles. For example, technical roles in Engineering or IT may command different salary ranges compared to roles in Marketing or Human Resources.

4. How does experience level affect salary at Santa Maria Sun?

Experience level is a significant factor in determining salary at Santa Maria Sun, as it is with most employers. Generally, employees with more years of relevant experience and a proven track record can command higher salaries. For example, a senior-level role will typically have a higher pay band than an entry-level or mid-career position within the same job family.

5. How can I determine if a salary offer from Santa Maria Sun in Santa Maria is fair given the local cost of living?

To determine if a salary offer from Santa Maria Sun in Santa Maria is fair, first compare the gross salary to our data for similar roles at Santa Maria Sun and its competitors (see our similar company salaries section) . Then, critically, use our "Cost of Living Insights for Santa Maria" to understand its purchasing power.

6. What factors influence salary increases at Santa Maria Sun?

Salary increases at Santa Maria Sun are likely influenced by a combination of factors, including: individual employee performance against set goals, overall company performance and profitability, budget availability, changes in the market rate for similar roles (market adjustments), and sometimes cost-of-living increases.