Salary comparison
Occupational Therapists: Vallejo vs Santa Maria
Vallejo, CA pays about 7.2% more for occupational therapists on paper — $135,000 vs $125,890. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Vallejo comes out ahead by $9,110 a year in real buying power.
Vallejo, CA
$135,000
$114,200
$141,910
$64.90
100
$135,000/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Maria, CA
$125,890
$109,780
$137,320
$60.53
100
$125,890/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $9,110 a year (7.2%) in favor of Vallejo. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Vallejo runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Maria sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Vallejo is the better deal by $9,110 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Maria to Vallejo for this role, the raise needs to beat 7.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do occupational therapists earn more, Vallejo or Santa Maria?
Vallejo pays $135,000 on median — about 7.2% more than Santa Maria ($125,890). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Vallejo. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Vallejo gives you roughly$135,000 of real buying power versus $125,890 in the other city.