Paycheck Atlas

Biological Scientists, All Other salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median biological scientists, all other in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $98,400 a year, about the same as the US median. After tax that is roughly $5,931 a month.

10th percentile
$59,380
25th percentile
$75,790
Median percentile
$98,400
75th percentile
$129,790
90th percentile
$159,070

Based on 60 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$71,166 take-home a year
Gross pay$98,400
Federal income tax−$12,818
Social Security + Medicare−$7,528
California income tax (approx.)−$6,888
Monthly take-home$5,931
Every two weeks$2,737

Does it go far here?

$89,539Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
38%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,264 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

JobMedian pay
Registered Nurses$170,960
Software Developers$156,910
Sales Managers$117,090
General and Operations Managers$105,360
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,260
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,810
Accountants and Auditors$84,920
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,010

All biological scientists, all other salaries · Take-home pay in California