Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $140,220 or more. The middle half of architects (except landscape and naval) in Santa Cruz earn between $79,710 and $129,620.
- $63K10th
- $80K25th
- $106KMedian
- $130K75th
- $140K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,160 | $8,763 | $50.56 |
| Median | $105,750 | $8,812 | $50.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,710 | $6,642 | $38.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $129,620 | $10,802 | $62.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Architects (except landscape and naval) in Santa Cruz earn 14% less than the California average ($121,910) and about the same as the U.S. average ($106,260). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $99,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $105,160 | $105,750 | $62,650 | $140,220 | 40 |
| California | $121,910 | $108,540 | $75,640 | $171,160 | 13,270 |
| United States | $106,260 | $99,280 | $62,300 | $161,420 | 106,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $105,160, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $77,122 a year, or $6,427 a month and $2,966 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 architects (except landscape and naval)? 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 $105,160 buys what about $95,690 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 11.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 16th of 18 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($142,170).
- San Jose$142,170
- San Francisco$131,300
- Sacramento$124,740
- San Diego$123,640
- Redding$118,650
- Modesto$116,700
- Bakersfield$116,030
- Los Angeles$115,940
- Santa Rosa$115,070
- Santa Cruz$105,160
All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for architects (except landscape and naval)
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,170).
- San Jose, CA$142,170
- San Francisco, CA$131,300
- Trenton, NJ$127,000
- Kiryas Joel, NY$125,980
- Sacramento, CA$124,740
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Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do architects (except landscape and naval) make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$50.56 an hour on average, and $50.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architects (except landscape and naval) salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architects (except landscape and naval) take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $77,122 a year ($6,427 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,160. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do architects (except landscape and naval) earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($106,260).
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 17-1011; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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