Paycheck Atlas

Firefighters salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median firefighters in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $64,980 a year, 10% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $4,154 a month.

10th percentile
$40,590
25th percentile
$54,120
Median percentile
$64,980
75th percentile
$90,290
90th percentile
$99,550

Based on 380 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

$49,843 take-home a year
Gross pay$64,980
Federal income tax−$5,618
Social Security + Medicare−$4,971
California income tax (approx.)−$4,549
Monthly take-home$4,154
Every two weeks$1,917

Does it go far here?

$59,129Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
55%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 firefighters salaries · Take-home pay in California