Bartenders pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,940 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Santa Cruz earn between $35,130 and $37,450.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $37K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,240 | $3,603 | $20.79 |
| Median | $36,100 | $3,008 | $17.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,130 | $2,928 | $16.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,450 | $3,121 | $18.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Bartenders in Santa Cruz earn 3% less than the California average ($44,780) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $43,240 | $36,100 | $34,320 | $70,940 | 560 |
| California | $44,780 | $36,220 | $34,320 | $75,130 | 71,470 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $43,240, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $36,058 a year, or $3,005 a month and $1,387 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $43,240 buys what about $39,346 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 26.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 14th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($50,970).
- San Francisco$50,970
- San Jose$50,890
- San Luis Obispo$47,350
- San Diego$46,900
- Napa$46,780
- Santa Rosa$46,650
- Salinas$46,550
- Sacramento$46,320
- Oxnard$45,270
- Santa Cruz$43,240
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Bartenders salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$20.79 an hour on average, and $17.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $36,058 a year ($3,005 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do bartenders earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.