Helpers--Production Workers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $51,630 or more. The middle half of helpers--production workers in Santa Cruz earn between $39,700 and $46,270.
- $37K10th
- $40K25th
- $40KMedian
- $46K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,030 | $3,586 | $20.69 |
| Median | $39,700 | $3,308 | $19.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,700 | $3,308 | $19.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,270 | $3,856 | $22.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Helpers--Production Workers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Helpers--production workers in Santa Cruz earn 7% less than the California average ($46,150) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($41,120). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $39,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $43,030 | $39,700 | $37,210 | $51,630 | 100 |
| California | $46,150 | $43,970 | $36,640 | $62,130 | 16,730 |
| United States | $41,120 | $39,070 | $31,140 | $53,410 | 165,700 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Helpers--Production Workers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $43,030, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $35,898 a year, or $2,991 a month and $1,381 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 helpers--production workers? 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 $43,030 buys what about $39,155 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 26.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Helpers--Production Workers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 19th of 23 California metro areas for this job; Napa pays the most ($54,850).
- Napa$54,850
- Santa Rosa$51,270
- San Diego$49,570
- San Jose$49,340
- Salinas$48,820
- Sacramento$48,620
- San Francisco$48,430
- Stockton$46,890
- Vallejo$46,490
- Santa Cruz$43,030
Highest-paying cities for helpers--production workers
Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,850).
- Napa, CA$54,850
- Kahului, HI$52,210
- Albany, OR$52,010
- Oshkosh, WI$51,570
- Hagerstown, MD$51,320
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Helpers--Production Workers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do helpers--production workers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$20.69 an hour on average, and $19.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level helpers--production workers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the helpers--production workers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $35,898 a year ($2,991 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,030. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do helpers--production workers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($41,120).
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 51-9198; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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