NAICS 62

Healthcare and Social Assistance in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Metro Market Score 45.9 (Moderate), ranked #104 of 248 metros. 5,262 establishments, 28,097 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 45.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national healthcare and social assistance average.

💰High-Cost Market🌱Emerging Market

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks in the upper half for healthcare and social assistance market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 45.9, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
24.2
LQ: 0.91
Rank #60 of 248 metros
Wage Competitiveness
85.5
$69,623 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 67.7
Employment growth index
Rank #81 of 248 metros
Wage Pressure
43.8
YoY wage change index

5,262 Healthcare and Social Assistance Firms in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

5,262
Establishments
+13.6% YoY
28,097
Total Employment
+4.5% YoY
$69,623
Average Annual Wage
+3.7% YoY
0.91
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara vs California Statewide

How this metro's healthcare and social assistance market compares to California overall. The state ranks #49/51 for entry risk.

Measure Santa Maria-Santa Barbara CA Statewide
Overall Score 45.9 Moderate 54.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #104 of 248 metros #49 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

Construction 39.1 Finance and Insurance 42.6 Retail Trade 51.6 Other Services 54.0 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 61.3 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 65.8 Administrative and Support Services 76.0 Information 78.0 Accommodation and Food Services 84.9

Healthcare and Social Assistance in Other California Metros

Visalia 15.8 #4/248 Merced 17.5 #6/248 Bakersfield-Delano 18.6 #7/248 El Centro 21.7 #8/248 Stockton-Lodi 26.8 #14/248 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura 26.9 #15/248 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 27.0 #16/248 Hanford-Corcoran 31.8 #26/248 Salinas 32.3 #30/248 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 34.9 #41/248

+ 13 more metros. View all in California →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Santa Maria-Santa Barbara's healthcare and social assistance sector, the wage competitiveness component (85.5) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.