Psychiatric Technicians pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,760 or more. The middle half of psychiatric technicians in Santa Cruz earn between $37,570 and $46,980.
- $38K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $47K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,840 | $3,820 | $22.04 |
| Median | $43,710 | $3,642 | $21.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,570 | $3,131 | $18.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,980 | $3,915 | $22.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Psychiatric Technicians pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Psychiatric technicians in Santa Cruz earn 22% less than the California average ($58,780) and about the same as the U.S. average ($46,610). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $45,130.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $45,840 | $43,710 | $37,570 | $57,760 | n/a |
| California | $58,780 | $49,140 | $40,880 | $88,090 | 14,100 |
| United States | $46,610 | $45,130 | $35,090 | $60,750 | 156,960 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Psychiatric Technicians salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $45,840, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $38,043 a year, or $3,170 a month and $1,463 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 psychiatric technicians? 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 $45,840 buys what about $41,712 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 25.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Psychiatric Technicians salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 16th of 16 California metro areas for this job; Stockton pays the most ($90,620).
- Stockton$90,620
- Napa$79,140
- Vallejo$76,310
- Visalia$73,420
- Santa Maria$64,900
- San Francisco$63,480
- San Jose$63,410
- Santa Rosa$60,190
- Fresno$59,390
- Santa Cruz$45,840
Highest-paying cities for psychiatric technicians
Stockton, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,620).
- Stockton, CA$90,620
- Napa, CA$79,140
- Vallejo, CA$76,310
- Visalia, CA$73,420
- Ann Arbor, MI$68,620
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Psychiatric Technicians salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do psychiatric technicians make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$22.04 an hour on average, and $21.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level psychiatric technicians salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the psychiatric technicians take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $38,043 a year ($3,170 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,840. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do psychiatric technicians earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($46,610).
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 29-2053; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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.
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