Human Resources Specialists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $135,020 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Santa Cruz earn between $71,910 and $106,710.
- $59K10th
- $72K25th
- $85KMedian
- $107K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $93,190 | $7,766 | $44.80 |
| Median | $84,690 | $7,058 | $40.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,910 | $5,992 | $34.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,710 | $8,892 | $51.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($95,180) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $93,190 | $84,690 | $59,060 | $135,020 | 450 |
| California | $95,180 | $83,500 | $52,770 | $151,410 | 104,000 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $93,190, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $69,815 a year, or $5,818 a month and $2,685 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 human resources specialists? 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 $93,190 buys what about $84,798 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 12.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 3rd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($122,290).
- San Jose$122,290
- San Francisco$113,530
- Santa Cruz$93,190
- Vallejo$92,480
- Santa Maria$91,880
- San Diego$91,760
- Napa$91,260
- Oxnard$90,570
- Los Angeles$89,780
- Sacramento$89,450
Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
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Human Resources Specialists salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$44.80 an hour on average, and $40.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $69,815 a year ($5,818 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $93,190. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do human resources specialists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
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 13-1071; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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