SOC 43-4121 · Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro

Library Assistants, Clerical Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The average salary for library assistants, clerical in Santa Cruz, California is $52,670 a year ($25.32 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $51,410: half of the 70 people in this job in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 34% more than the U.S. average for this job ($39,370).

$52,670average per year

$25.32 / hourMedian $51,410Take-home ≈ $43,148

  • $36K10th
  • $46K25th
  • $51KMedian
  • $62K75th
  • $64K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

70people in this job
+34%vs U.S. average
#3 of 22California metros
110cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Library Assistants, Clerical pay range in Santa Cruz

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,620 or more. The middle half of library assistants, clerical in Santa Cruz earn between $45,780 and $61,570.

  • $36K10th
  • $46K25th
  • $51KMedian
  • $62K75th
  • $64K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$52,670$4,389$25.32
Median$51,410$4,284$24.72
Entry level (25th percentile)$45,780$3,815$22.01
Experienced (75th percentile)$61,570$5,131$29.60

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Library Assistants, Clerical pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.

Library assistants, clerical in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($51,570) and 34% more than the U.S. average ($39,370). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $36,910.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Santa Cruz$52,670$51,410$35,940$63,62070
California$51,570$47,860$36,920$68,81011,170
United States$39,370$36,910$27,730$55,31085,520

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Library Assistants, Clerical salary after taxes in Santa Cruz

On the average salary of $52,670, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $43,148 a year, or $3,596 a month and $1,660 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Santa Cruz a good place for library assistants, clerical? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $52,670 buys what about $47,927 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 22.0 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $52,670 is worth in another city

Library Assistants, Clerical salary in other California cities

Santa Cruz ranks 3rd of 22 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($61,280).

All Library Assistants, Clerical salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for library assistants, clerical

San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,280).

Library Assistants, Clerical salary by city

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Library Assistants, Clerical salary in Santa Cruz: questions

How much do library assistants, clerical make an hour in Santa Cruz?

$25.32 an hour on average, and $24.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level library assistants, clerical salary in Santa Cruz?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,780, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the library assistants, clerical take-home pay in Santa Cruz?

About $43,148 a year ($3,596 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,670. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do library assistants, clerical earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?

The average here is 34% more than the U.S. average for this job ($39,370).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-4121; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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