Paycheck Atlas

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median career/technical education teachers, secondary school in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $80,100 a year, 21% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $4,964 a month.

10th percentile
$68,470
25th percentile
$68,470
Median percentile
$80,100
75th percentile
$97,830
90th percentile
$98,550

Based on 50 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

$59,573 take-home a year
Gross pay$80,100
Federal income tax−$8,792
Social Security + Medicare−$6,128
California income tax (approx.)−$5,607
Monthly take-home$4,964
Every two weeks$2,291

Does it go far here?

$72,887Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
46%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 career/technical education teachers, secondary school salaries · Take-home pay in California