Paycheck Atlas

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median elementary school teachers, except special education in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $99,260 a year, 55% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $5,976 a month.

10th percentile
$62,070
25th percentile
$74,270
Median percentile
$99,260
75th percentile
$103,830
90th percentile
$126,150

Based on 1,000 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

$71,711 take-home a year
Gross pay$99,260
Federal income tax−$13,007
Social Security + Medicare−$7,593
California income tax (approx.)−$6,948
Monthly take-home$5,976
Every two weeks$2,758

Does it go far here?

$90,322Median 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
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,810
Accountants and Auditors$84,920
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,010
Carpenters$77,690

All elementary school teachers, except special education salaries · Take-home pay in California