Computer Programmers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $166,430 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Santa Cruz earn between $106,750 and $152,490.
- $86K10th
- $107K25th
- $133KMedian
- $152K75th
- $166K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $128,360 | $10,697 | $61.71 |
| Median | $132,850 | $11,071 | $63.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $106,750 | $8,896 | $51.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $152,490 | $12,708 | $73.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Computer programmers in Santa Cruz earn 7% more than the California average ($119,900) and 22% more than the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $128,360 | $132,850 | $85,920 | $166,430 | 90 |
| California | $119,900 | $116,760 | $70,310 | $172,300 | 11,340 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $128,360, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $91,155 a year, or $7,596 a month and $3,506 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 computer programmers? 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 $128,360 buys what about $116,801 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 3rd of 16 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($150,780).
- San Jose$150,780
- San Diego$129,530
- Santa Cruz$128,360
- San Francisco$127,030
- San Luis Obispo$113,250
- Sacramento$112,710
- Santa Rosa$112,410
- Santa Maria$108,440
- Los Angeles$108,020
- Visalia$105,690
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$61.71 an hour on average, and $63.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $91,155 a year ($7,596 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $128,360. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do computer programmers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% more than the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
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 15-1251; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 1.59, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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