Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,150 or more. The middle half of elementary school teachers (except special education) in Santa Cruz earn between $74,270 and $103,830.
- $62K10th
- $74K25th
- $99KMedian
- $104K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,820 | $7,652 | — |
| Median | $99,260 | $8,272 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,270 | $6,189 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,830 | $8,652 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Elementary school teachers (except special education) in Santa Cruz earn 4% less than the California average ($95,670) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($72,650). At the median the gap is +55% against the U.S. median of $63,970.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $91,820 | $99,260 | $62,070 | $126,150 | 1,000 |
| California | $95,670 | $99,650 | $61,940 | $127,070 | 155,160 |
| United States | $72,650 | $63,970 | $47,960 | $104,340 | 1,388,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $91,820, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $68,978 a year, or $5,748 a month and $2,653 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 elementary school teachers (except special education)? 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 $91,820 buys what about $83,552 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 12.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 16th of 25 California metro areas for this job; El Centro pays the most ($105,390).
- El Centro$105,390
- Merced$103,340
- San Jose$102,340
- Modesto$99,430
- San Francisco$98,510
- Los Angeles$98,150
- Visalia$97,060
- Riverside$96,990
- Hanford$96,110
- Santa Cruz$91,820
All Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for elementary school teachers (except special education)
Mount Vernon, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($106,760).
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,760
- El Centro, CA$105,390
- Merced, CA$103,340
- San Jose, CA$102,340
- Seattle, WA$102,290
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary by city
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Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Santa Cruz: questions
What is the entry-level elementary school teachers (except special education) salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the elementary school teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $68,978 a year ($5,748 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,820. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do elementary school teachers (except special education) earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,650).
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 25-2021; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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