Paycheck Atlas

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median special education teachers, secondary school in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $101,060 a year, 36% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $6,071 a month.

10th percentile
$63,140
25th percentile
$78,290
Median percentile
$101,060
75th percentile
$103,780
90th percentile
$126,090

Based on 70 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

$72,852 take-home a year
Gross pay$101,060
Federal income tax−$13,403
Social Security + Medicare−$7,731
California income tax (approx.)−$7,074
Monthly take-home$6,071
Every two weeks$2,802

Does it go far here?

$91,960Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
37%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 special education teachers, secondary school salaries · Take-home pay in California