Paycheck Atlas

Childcare Workers salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median childcare workers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $38,050 a year, 9% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,507 a month.

10th percentile
$35,230
25th percentile
$35,650
Median percentile
$38,050
75th percentile
$45,290
90th percentile
$48,470

Based on 330 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

$30,090 take-home a year
Gross pay$38,050
Federal income tax−$2,386
Social Security + Medicare−$2,911
California income tax (approx.)−$2,664
Monthly take-home$2,507
Every two weeks$1,157

Does it go far here?

$34,624Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
90%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 childcare workers salaries · Take-home pay in California