Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $109,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $286,700 or more. The middle half of education administrators, postsecondary in Santa Cruz earn between $128,630 and $218,390.
- $110K10th
- $129K25th
- $172KMedian
- $218K75th
- $287K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $183,730 | $15,311 | $88.33 |
| Median | $172,410 | $14,368 | $82.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $128,630 | $10,719 | $61.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $218,390 | $18,199 | $105.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Education administrators, postsecondary in Santa Cruz earn 30% more than the California average ($140,980) and 45% more than the U.S. average ($126,540). At the median the gap is +65% against the U.S. median of $104,590.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $183,730 | $172,410 | $109,620 | $286,700 | 50 |
| California | $140,980 | $125,460 | $76,700 | $216,480 | 14,870 |
| United States | $126,540 | $104,590 | $64,560 | $215,620 | 180,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $183,730, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $123,851 a year, or $10,321 a month and $4,763 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% 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 education administrators, postsecondary? 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 $183,730 buys what about $167,185 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 2nd of 18 California metro areas for this job; Merced pays the most ($197,170).
- Merced$197,170
- Santa Cruz$183,730
- San Jose$161,780
- Santa Maria$160,510
- San Francisco$145,530
- Sacramento$145,450
- Visalia$140,270
- Los Angeles$139,140
- San Diego$138,480
- Riverside$135,700
All Education Administrators, Postsecondary salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for education administrators, postsecondary
Augusta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($257,050).
- Augusta, GA$257,050
- Merced, CA$197,170
- Binghamton, NY$192,830
- Lansing, MI$187,140
- Santa Cruz, CA$183,730
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Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do education administrators, postsecondary make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$88.33 an hour on average, and $82.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level education administrators, postsecondary salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $109,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $128,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the education administrators, postsecondary take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $123,851 a year ($10,321 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $183,730. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do education administrators, postsecondary earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 45% more than the U.S. average for this job ($126,540).
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 11-9033; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 0.45, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.45).
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