Tax Preparers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,730 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Santa Cruz earn between $44,900 and $75,340.
- $44K10th
- $45K25th
- $72KMedian
- $75K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,290 | $5,524 | $31.87 |
| Median | $71,800 | $5,983 | $34.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,900 | $3,742 | $21.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,340 | $6,278 | $36.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Santa Cruz earn 7% less than the California average ($71,540) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is +31% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $66,290 | $71,800 | $43,530 | $93,730 | 60 |
| California | $71,540 | $70,030 | $38,910 | $104,000 | 10,270 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $66,290, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $53,213 a year, or $4,434 a month and $2,047 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 tax preparers? 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 $66,290 buys what about $60,321 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 17.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 10th of 17 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($84,300).
- San Francisco$84,300
- San Jose$83,550
- Santa Rosa$71,350
- San Diego$69,700
- Salinas$68,190
- Los Angeles$68,140
- Stockton$67,450
- Modesto$66,970
- Sacramento$66,850
- Santa Cruz$66,290
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$31.87 an hour on average, and $34.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $53,213 a year ($4,434 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,290. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do tax preparers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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 13-2082; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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