SOC 15-1299 · Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro

Computer Occupations, All Other Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The average salary for other computer occupations in Santa Cruz, California is $121,080 a year ($58.21 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $107,990: half of the 180 people in this job in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($122,230).

$121,080average per year

$58.21 / hourMedian $107,990Take-home ≈ $86,841

  • $54K10th
  • $80K25th
  • $108KMedian
  • $163K75th
  • $195K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

180people in this job
-1%vs U.S. average
#8 of 24California metros
110cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Computer Occupations, All Other pay range in Santa Cruz

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle half of other computer occupations in Santa Cruz earn between $79,760 and $163,090.

  • $54K10th
  • $80K25th
  • $108KMedian
  • $163K75th
  • $195K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$121,080$10,090$58.21
Median$107,990$8,999$51.92
Entry level (25th percentile)$79,760$6,647$38.35
Experienced (75th percentile)$163,090$13,591$78.41

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Computer Occupations, All Other pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.

Other computer occupations in Santa Cruz earn 18% less than the California average ($146,770) and about the same as the U.S. average ($122,230). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $116,580.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Santa Cruz$121,080$107,990$54,450$195,190180
California$146,770$134,440$58,340$222,69080,150
United States$122,230$116,580$55,940$188,470435,370

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Computer Occupations, All Other salary after taxes in Santa Cruz

On the average salary of $121,080, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $86,841 a year, or $7,237 a month and $3,340 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Santa Cruz a good place for other computer occupations? 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 $121,080 buys what about $110,177 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 9.6 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $121,080 is worth in another city

Computer Occupations, All Other salary in other California cities

Santa Cruz ranks 8th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($195,680).

All Computer Occupations, All Other salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for other computer occupations

San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($195,680).

Computer Occupations, All Other salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Computer Occupations, All Other in Santa Cruz, CA.

Computer Occupations, All Other salary in Santa Cruz: questions

How much do other computer occupations make an hour in Santa Cruz?

$58.21 an hour on average, and $51.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level other computer occupations salary in Santa Cruz?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,760, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the other computer occupations take-home pay in Santa Cruz?

About $86,841 a year ($7,237 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,080. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do other computer occupations earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?

The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($122,230).

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 15-1299; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
  • 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 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).

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