Labor Relations Specialists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $194,410 or more. The middle half of labor relations specialists in Santa Cruz earn between $92,540 and $157,310.
- $80K10th
- $93K25th
- $128KMedian
- $157K75th
- $194K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $126,580 | $10,548 | $60.86 |
| Median | $128,320 | $10,693 | $61.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $92,540 | $7,712 | $44.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $157,310 | $13,109 | $75.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Labor Relations Specialists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Labor relations specialists in Santa Cruz earn 13% more than the California average ($112,210) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($98,720). At the median the gap is +34% against the U.S. median of $95,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $126,580 | $128,320 | $79,900 | $194,410 | 40 |
| California | $112,210 | $105,810 | $53,350 | $172,110 | 8,830 |
| United States | $98,720 | $95,420 | $50,490 | $156,180 | 64,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Labor Relations Specialists salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $126,580, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $90,104 a year, or $7,509 a month and $3,466 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 labor relations 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 $126,580 buys what about $115,182 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Labor Relations Specialists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 3rd of 17 California metro areas for this job; Vallejo pays the most ($165,310).
- Vallejo$165,310
- San Jose$132,160
- Santa Cruz$126,580
- San Francisco$125,990
- Fresno$120,240
- Santa Maria$110,990
- Bakersfield$109,000
- Santa Rosa$108,370
- San Diego$106,780
- Los Angeles$105,570
Highest-paying cities for labor relations specialists
Vallejo, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,310).
- Vallejo, CA$165,310
- Bellingham, WA$136,810
- San Jose, CA$132,160
- Santa Cruz, CA$126,580
- San Francisco, CA$125,990
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Labor Relations Specialists salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do labor relations specialists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$60.86 an hour on average, and $61.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level labor relations specialists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $92,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the labor relations specialists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $90,104 a year ($7,509 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $126,580. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do labor relations specialists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($98,720).
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 13-1075; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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