Paycheck Atlas

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

The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $98,810 a year, 37% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $5,952 a month.

10th percentile
$63,010
25th percentile
$78,500
Median percentile
$98,810
75th percentile
$108,670
90th percentile
$129,100

Based on 560 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

$71,426 take-home a year
Gross pay$98,810
Federal income tax−$12,908
Social Security + Medicare−$7,559
California income tax (approx.)−$6,917
Monthly take-home$5,952
Every two weeks$2,747

Does it go far here?

$89,912Median 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
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,260
Accountants and Auditors$84,920
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,010
Carpenters$77,690

All secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salaries · Take-home pay in California