Ventura Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Ventura, CA: $25.24/hr median hourly wage, $52,510 median annual salary, cost of living index 148.5, and $16.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
Ventura Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Ventura, CA is $25.24/hr,and the median annual wage is $52,510. Entry-level pay estimates around $15.65/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $35.84/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.00/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metropolitan statistical area (323,890 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Ventura shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$52,510
$25.24/hr
Cost of Living
148.5
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.9%
rate
Ventura, CA Overview
Population
109,106
Median Salary
$52,510
Average Salary
$71,810
Avg Commute
18 min
Median Home Price
$720,000
Median Rent
$2,935/mo
Job Growth
+2%
Sales Tax
7.25%
Ventura is located in California with a population of 109,106. The median annual wage across all occupations is $52,510 ($25.24/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro), which is $1,530 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 18 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2%.
Ventura Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Ventura, CA built around the $52,510 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $32,556 | $15.65/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $52,510 | $25.24/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $74,564 | $35.84/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $93,468 | $44.93/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Ventura Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Ventura, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$43,029
$3,585.72/month · $1,654.95/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.1%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,654.95 take-home per paycheck after estimated California and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$52,510
Federal Tax
-$4,121
State Tax
-$1,343
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,017
Net Pay
$43,029
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,375.83 | $52,510.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$343.43 | -$4,121.20 |
| California State Tax (2.56% eff.) | -$111.93 | -$1,343.13 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$271.30 | -$3,255.62 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$63.45 | -$761.40 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,585.72 | $43,028.66 |
Salary Comparison: Ventura vs Other Cities
See how Ventura's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventura, CA | $52,510 | 148.5 | $35,360 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Oxnard, CA | $52,510 | 118 | $44,500 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | $52,510 | 156.7 | $33,510 |
| Simi Valley, CA | $52,510 | 155.6 | $33,747 |
| Camarillo, CA | $52,510 | 143.4 | $36,618 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Ventura
Ventura's cost of living index is 148.5 (national average = 100). Living in Ventura is 48.5% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$720,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,935
Annual Rent Cost
$35,220
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $43,029 annual take-home pay in Ventura has the purchasing power of approximately $28,976 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $77,977 in Ventura to match a $52,510 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Ventura
Ventura's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $52,510.
Salary Tips for Ventura Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Ventura has a cost of living 48.5% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 13.3% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Ventura's top industries include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $52,510 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in California
Victorville
Visalia
Vista
Walnut
Walnut Creek
Watsonville
West Covina
West Hollywood
West Sacramento
Westminster
Whittier
Wildomar
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Ventura salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Ventura indexed at 148.5.
- Median salary: $52,510 annual, $25.24 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA (323,890 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $71,810 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Ventura was $58,023.
- Tax burden reflects California 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 13.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Ventura: 4.9%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $720,000, median rent $2,935/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Ventura, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Ventura unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Ventura QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, California, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Ventura's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent California labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Ventura, CA?
The median hourly wage in Ventura, CA is $25.24 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $52,510. Entry-level workers are estimated around $15.65/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $35.84/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Ventura, CA?
The median salary in Ventura, CA is $52,510 per year, or $25.24 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $71,810. This is $1,530 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Ventura, CA?
Ventura's cost of living index is 148.5 (national average = 100), meaning it is 48.5% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $720,000 and the median monthly rent is $2,935.
What are the best industries in Ventura?
The top industries in Ventura, CA include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. The city has a job growth rate of 2% and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $52,510.
How does Ventura's salary compare to other cities?
Ventura's median salary of $52,510 is 3.0% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 148.5), the real purchasing power is approximately $35,360.
What is the minimum wage in Ventura, CA?
The minimum wage in Ventura, CA is $16.00 per hour. This equals approximately $33,280 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $8.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.