Paycheck Atlas

Opticians, Dispensing salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median opticians, dispensing in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $55,950 a year, 18% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $3,602 a month.

10th percentile
$46,910
25th percentile
$48,990
Median percentile
$55,950
75th percentile
$77,290
90th percentile
$77,460

Based on 50 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

$43,219 take-home a year
Gross pay$55,950
Federal income tax−$4,534
Social Security + Medicare−$4,280
California income tax (approx.)−$3,917
Monthly take-home$3,602
Every two weeks$1,662

Does it go far here?

$50,912Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
63%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 opticians, dispensing salaries · Take-home pay in California