Carpenters pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $114,300 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Santa Cruz earn between $61,980 and $92,230.
- $48K10th
- $62K25th
- $78KMedian
- $92K75th
- $114K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,270 | $6,522 | $37.63 |
| Median | $77,690 | $6,474 | $37.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,980 | $5,165 | $29.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,230 | $7,686 | $44.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Carpenters in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($78,810) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $78,270 | $77,690 | $48,220 | $114,300 | 700 |
| California | $78,810 | $75,920 | $47,490 | $119,950 | 100,750 |
| United States | $65,630 | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Carpenters salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $78,270, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $60,704 a year, or $5,059 a month and $2,335 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 carpenters? 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 $78,270 buys what about $71,222 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 14.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 8th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($89,630).
- San Francisco$89,630
- San Jose$87,930
- Napa$86,890
- Santa Rosa$83,430
- Vallejo$80,420
- San Luis Obispo$80,200
- Los Angeles$78,600
- Santa Cruz$78,270
- Yuba City$77,830
- San Diego$77,240
Highest-paying cities for carpenters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,730).
- Fairbanks, AK$90,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,630
- Honolulu, HI$89,400
- Decatur, IL$88,510
- San Jose, CA$87,930
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Carpenters salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$37.63 an hour on average, and $37.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $60,704 a year ($5,059 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,270. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do carpenters earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more than the U.S. average for this job ($65,630).
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 47-2031; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.65, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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