Chemical Technicians pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,330 or more. The middle half of chemical technicians in Santa Cruz earn between $48,160 and $60,500.
- $47K10th
- $48K25th
- $57KMedian
- $60K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,240 | $4,853 | $28.00 |
| Median | $57,390 | $4,782 | $27.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,160 | $4,013 | $23.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,500 | $5,042 | $29.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Technicians pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Chemical technicians in Santa Cruz earn 10% less than the California average ($64,570) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($63,900). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $60,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $58,240 | $57,390 | $46,710 | $82,330 | 40 |
| California | $64,570 | $59,510 | $44,070 | $88,900 | 6,800 |
| United States | $63,900 | $60,390 | $41,740 | $92,040 | 57,540 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Technicians salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $58,240, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $47,289 a year, or $3,941 a month and $1,819 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 chemical technicians? 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 $58,240 buys what about $52,996 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 19.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Technicians salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 11th of 19 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($76,990).
- San Francisco$76,990
- San Jose$71,610
- Vallejo$70,500
- Sacramento$65,170
- Los Angeles$63,410
- San Diego$60,910
- Bakersfield$60,790
- Santa Maria$60,220
- Napa$58,780
- Santa Cruz$58,240
Highest-paying cities for chemical technicians
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,470).
- Baton Rouge, LA$94,470
- Lake Charles, LA$89,340
- Augusta, GA$83,060
- Niles, MI$81,900
- Beaumont, TX$80,360
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Chemical Technicians salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do chemical technicians make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$28.00 an hour on average, and $27.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical technicians salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical technicians take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $47,289 a year ($3,941 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do chemical technicians earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,900).
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 19-4031; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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