Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,370 or more. The middle half of preschool teachers (except special education) in Santa Cruz earn between $44,320 and $61,620.
- $39K10th
- $44K25th
- $48KMedian
- $62K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,250 | $4,354 | $25.12 |
| Median | $47,780 | $3,982 | $22.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,320 | $3,693 | $21.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,620 | $5,135 | $29.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Preschool teachers (except special education) in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($51,190) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($43,030). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $38,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $52,250 | $47,780 | $38,610 | $73,370 | 420 |
| California | $51,190 | $47,400 | $37,870 | $65,350 | 55,700 |
| United States | $43,030 | $38,140 | $28,990 | $61,390 | 478,780 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $52,250, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $42,835 a year, or $3,570 a month and $1,648 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.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for preschool teachers (except special education)? 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 $52,250 buys what about $47,545 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 22.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 7th of 25 California metro areas for this job; Visalia pays the most ($56,190).
- Visalia$56,190
- San Francisco$55,850
- Modesto$55,820
- San Jose$55,510
- Merced$53,500
- Salinas$52,530
- Santa Cruz$52,250
- Los Angeles$50,550
- Napa$50,540
- Santa Maria$50,460
All Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for preschool teachers (except special education)
Vineland, NJ pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($62,570).
- Vineland, NJ$62,570
- Albany, GA$62,070
- Atlantic City, NJ$58,560
- Brunswick, GA$58,180
- Denver, CO$57,250
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Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do preschool teachers (except special education) make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$25.12 an hour on average, and $22.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level preschool teachers (except special education) salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the preschool teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $42,835 a year ($3,570 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,250. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do preschool teachers (except special education) earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more than the U.S. average for this job ($43,030).
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 25-2011; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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