Paycheck Atlas

Registered Nurses salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median registered nurses in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $170,960 a year, 75% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $9,679 a month.

10th percentile
$97,980
25th percentile
$122,310
Median percentile
$170,960
75th percentile
$210,360
90th percentile
$210,870

Based on 1,750 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

$116,150 take-home a year
Gross pay$170,960
Federal income tax−$29,764
Social Security + Medicare−$13,078
California income tax (approx.)−$11,967
Monthly take-home$9,679
Every two weeks$4,467

Does it go far here?

$155,565Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
23%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,264 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

JobMedian pay
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
Carpenters$77,690

All registered nurses salaries · Take-home pay in California