2026 Edition · An annual reference on what work pays
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metropolitan area. 56 published occupation pages; regional price parity 109.9 (US = 100).
Data released May 2025
BLS OEWS · 56 occupations
Table 1 — By occupation
What Santa Cruz pays
Median annual pay for every published occupation in the metro, exactly as released.
| Occupation | Median | Employment |
|---|
| Chief Executives | $209,080 | 220 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $198,770 | 260 |
| Registered Nurses | $170,960 | 1,750 |
| Managers, All Other | $170,650 | 350 |
| Marketing Managers | $168,980 | 150 |
| Financial Managers | $165,800 | 400 |
| Software Developers | $156,910 | 540 |
| Industrial Engineers | $131,740 | 120 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $124,450 | 490 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $122,970 | 400 |
| Sales Managers | $117,090 | 520 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $117,010 | 280 |
| Management Analysts | $105,480 | 450 |
| Logisticians | $104,320 | 110 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $84,690 | 450 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $84,090 | 260 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $83,180 | 180 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $81,000 | 340 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,880 | 440 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $78,330 | 210 |
| Carpenters | $77,690 | 700 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,410 | 860 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $77,400 | 280 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $70,570 | 150 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $68,130 | 350 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $67,530 | 240 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $62,400 | 230 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $61,960 | 1,120 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $61,920 | 150 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $60,580 | 370 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,510 | 130 |
| Dental Assistants | $58,580 | 370 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $58,400 | 210 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $57,510 | 960 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $54,870 | 390 |
| Medical Assistants | $50,090 | 960 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $48,740 | 590 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $48,380 | 190 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $48,340 | 410 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,220 | 960 |
| Nursing Assistants | $47,940 | 440 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,780 | 420 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $46,210 | 1,030 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,980 | 510 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,560 | 1,020 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $43,630 | 710 |
| Security Guards | $43,610 | 470 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $43,400 | 3,220 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $39,970 | 340 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,110 | 830 |
| Retail Salespersons | $38,620 | 2,430 |
| Cashiers | $37,390 | 2,530 |
| Dishwashers | $37,380 | 510 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $37,150 | 660 |
| Bartenders | $36,100 | 560 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,930 | 1,640 |
Sources
How this page was made
- Wage data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release. Public domain.
Medians are reported exactly as released. We take no payment for how any figure is presented.