Bakers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,950 or more. The middle half of bakers in Santa Cruz earn between $37,650 and $46,460.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $43KMedian
- $46K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,470 | $3,622 | $20.90 |
| Median | $42,920 | $3,577 | $20.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,650 | $3,138 | $18.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,460 | $3,872 | $22.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bakers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Bakers in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($44,130) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($38,480). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $37,160.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $43,470 | $42,920 | $35,880 | $54,950 | 310 |
| California | $44,130 | $43,120 | $36,510 | $54,960 | 30,020 |
| United States | $38,480 | $37,160 | $28,120 | $49,020 | 236,200 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bakers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $43,470, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $36,234 a year, or $3,019 a month and $1,394 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 bakers? 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 $43,470 buys what about $39,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 26.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Bakers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 11th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($48,600).
- San Jose$48,600
- San Francisco$47,540
- Napa$46,400
- Vallejo$45,200
- Santa Rosa$45,030
- Stockton$44,490
- San Diego$44,000
- Santa Maria$43,910
- Sacramento$43,640
- Santa Cruz$43,470
Highest-paying cities for bakers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,420).
- Kahului, HI$52,420
- Seattle, WA$48,930
- San Jose, CA$48,600
- Honolulu, HI$47,930
- Olympia, WA$47,540
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Bakers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do bakers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$20.90 an hour on average, and $20.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bakers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bakers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $36,234 a year ($3,019 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,470. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do bakers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,480).
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 51-3011; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 2.08, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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