Paycheck Atlas

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $79,490 a year, 23% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $4,932 a month.

10th percentile
$60,770
25th percentile
$71,920
Median percentile
$79,490
75th percentile
$102,010
90th percentile
$126,470

Based on 200 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

$59,187 take-home a year
Gross pay$79,490
Federal income tax−$8,658
Social Security + Medicare−$6,081
California income tax (approx.)−$5,564
Monthly take-home$4,932
Every two weeks$2,276

Does it go far here?

$72,332Median 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salaries · Take-home pay in California