StateRates

Santa Cruz-Watsonville salaries

The median worker in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earned $52,770 a year in 2024, about $25.37 an hour. That ranks #46 of the 391 metro areas published here, 6.6% above the national median.

California

Median pay $52,770 $25.37 per hour
Vs national +6.6% U.S. $49,500
Workers 98,750 wage and salary
Metro rank #46 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Santa Cruz-Watsonville pays 7.3% less than California as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Amusement and Recreation Attendants 2.73× 650 $34,690
Self-Enrichment Teachers 2.56× 510 $50,710
Cooks, Fast Food 1.83× 780 $37,670
Medical Assistants 1.79× 910 $49,070
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers 1.69× 1,020 $46,590
Dishwashers 1.67× 500 $36,520
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1.66× 4,230 $33,460
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers 1.5× 500 $35,030
Carpenters 1.37× 610 $72,740
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1.28× 700 $37,120
Light Truck Drivers 1.27× 810 $45,250
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1.26× 3,050 $37,300

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Chief Executives $214,680 $103.21 230
Lawyers $192,800 $92.69 200
Computer and Information Systems Managers $190,590 $91.63 270
Registered Nurses $178,900 $86.01 1,610
Managers, All Other $162,740 $78.24 350
Financial Managers $160,250 $77.04 360
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $152,010 n/a 230
Software Developers $138,740 $66.70 580
Medical and Health Services Managers $136,030 $65.40 440
Mechanical Engineers $129,190 $62.11 200
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $123,140 $59.20 450
Administrative Services Managers $111,570 $53.64 230
Computer Systems Analysts $108,700 $52.26 290
General and Operations Managers $108,150 $52.00 1,680
Project Management Specialists $102,160 $49.12 440
Management Analysts $101,930 $49.00 570
Sales Managers $100,550 $48.34 470
Teachers and Instructors, All Other $98,940 n/a 260
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $86,630 $41.65 390
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $83,300 $40.05 470
Accountants and Auditors $83,070 $39.94 760
Compliance Officers $82,320 $39.58 210
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $82,170 n/a 550
Human Resources Specialists $81,280 $39.08 420
Social and Community Service Managers $81,120 $39.00 250
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $80,630 n/a 930
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $79,580 $38.26 350
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $79,290 $38.12 280
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $78,770 $37.87 700
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants $77,680 $37.34 350
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists $77,430 $37.22 230
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $77,260 $37.15 820
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $77,060 n/a 280
Electricians $76,940 $36.99 350
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $76,440 $36.75 420
Food Service Managers $76,140 $36.60 210
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $74,620 $35.88 940
Firefighters $74,130 $35.64 360
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $73,600 $35.38 300
Computer User Support Specialists $73,410 $35.29 210
Carpenters $72,740 $34.97 610
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $70,680 $33.98 320
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents $70,550 $33.92 230
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $69,350 $33.34 340
Training and Development Specialists $66,990 $32.21 320
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $66,170 $31.81 360
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers $65,100 $31.30 260
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $63,680 $30.62 520
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $62,480 $30.04 210
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $61,310 $29.48 390
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other $60,860 $29.26 220
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $60,550 $29.11 340
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $60,220 $28.95 1,030
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term $60,060 $28.87 460
Construction Laborers $59,900 $28.80 610
Painters, Construction and Maintenance $59,560 $28.63 260
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,110 $28.42 730
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $58,310 $28.03 470
Postal Service Mail Carriers $57,030 $27.42 230
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $55,480 $26.67 1,130

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Santa Cruz-Watsonville by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 4,230 $33,460 $16.09
Fast Food and Counter Workers 3,050 $37,300 $17.93
Cashiers 2,540 $36,660 $17.63
Retail Salespersons 2,320 $36,910 $17.74
Office Clerks, General 1,840 $48,430 $23.28
Waiters and Waitresses 1,800 $35,270 $16.96
General and Operations Managers 1,680 $108,150 $52.00
Registered Nurses 1,610 $178,900 $86.01
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,480 $38,630 $18.57
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,400 $37,860 $18.20
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,160 $41,170 $19.79
Cooks, Restaurant 1,130 $42,460 $20.41
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,130 $55,480 $26.67
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 1,030 $60,220 $28.95
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers 1,020 $46,590 $22.40
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 960 $45,820 n/a
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 940 $74,620 $35.88
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 930 $80,630 n/a
Medical Assistants 910 $49,070 $23.59
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 900 $48,870 $23.49

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other California metro areas

Santa Cruz-Watsonville pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?

The median across all occupations is $52,770, or $25.37 an hour, covering 98,750 wage and salary workers. The mean is $72,270, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Santa Cruz-Watsonville pay more than the rest of California?

No. The metro median of $52,770 is 7.3% below the California median of $56,940. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?

Chief Executives ($214,680), Lawyers ($192,800), Computer and Information Systems Managers ($190,590). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Santa Cruz-Watsonville unusually full of?

Amusement and Recreation Attendants, at 2.73× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.