Paycheck Atlas

Chemists salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median chemists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $95,840 a year, 5% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $5,795 a month.

10th percentile
$61,560
25th percentile
$69,600
Median percentile
$95,840
75th percentile
$118,160
90th percentile
$135,810

Based on 70 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

$69,545 take-home a year
Gross pay$95,840
Federal income tax−$12,255
Social Security + Medicare−$7,332
California income tax (approx.)−$6,709
Monthly take-home$5,795
Every two weeks$2,675

Does it go far here?

$87,210Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
39%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 chemists salaries · Take-home pay in California