Acupuncturists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,750 or more. The middle half of acupuncturists in Santa Cruz earn between $47,360 and $91,350.
- $46K10th
- $47K25th
- $91KMedian
- $91K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,660 | $6,388 | $36.86 |
| Median | $91,350 | $7,612 | $43.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,360 | $3,947 | $22.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,350 | $7,612 | $43.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Acupuncturists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Acupuncturists in Santa Cruz earn 15% less than the California average ($89,810) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($87,020). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $76,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $76,660 | $91,350 | $45,630 | $93,750 | 50 |
| California | $89,810 | $75,530 | $37,810 | $186,300 | 2,520 |
| United States | $87,020 | $76,040 | $38,830 | $161,470 | 7,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Acupuncturists salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $76,660, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $59,700 a year, or $4,975 a month and $2,296 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 acupuncturists? 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 $76,660 buys what about $69,757 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Acupuncturists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 4th of 8 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($111,780).
- Los Angeles$111,780
- San Jose$98,620
- San Francisco$78,260
- Santa Cruz$76,660
- Santa Rosa$75,730
- Oxnard$72,410
- San Diego$70,520
- Riverside$60,400
Highest-paying cities for acupuncturists
Boston, MA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($115,140).
- Boston, MA$115,140
- Los Angeles, CA$111,780
- Seattle, WA$100,270
- New York, NY$99,600
- San Jose, CA$98,620
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Acupuncturists salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do acupuncturists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$36.86 an hour on average, and $43.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level acupuncturists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the acupuncturists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $59,700 a year ($4,975 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,660. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do acupuncturists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($87,020).
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 29-1291; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 16.3%.
- 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 9.86, this job is 9.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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