Electricians pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,560 or more. The middle half of electricians in Santa Cruz earn between $61,460 and $96,410.
- $48K10th
- $61K25th
- $77KMedian
- $96K75th
- $127K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,950 | $6,912 | $39.88 |
| Median | $76,610 | $6,384 | $36.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,460 | $5,122 | $29.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,410 | $8,034 | $46.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Electricians pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Electricians in Santa Cruz earn 3% less than the California average ($85,860) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($71,490). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $63,190.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $82,950 | $76,610 | $48,290 | $126,560 | 330 |
| California | $85,860 | $76,160 | $46,800 | $140,340 | 73,310 |
| United States | $71,490 | $63,190 | $42,640 | $108,510 | 757,220 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Electricians salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $82,950, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $63,563 a year, or $5,297 a month and $2,445 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 electricians? 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 $82,950 buys what about $75,480 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 14.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Electricians salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 10th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($103,690).
- San Francisco$103,690
- San Jose$99,650
- Hanford$92,270
- Vallejo$88,890
- Santa Rosa$86,020
- San Luis Obispo$84,200
- Modesto$83,790
- Napa$83,600
- Salinas$83,410
- Santa Cruz$82,950
Highest-paying cities for electricians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($103,690).
- San Francisco, CA$103,690
- Mount Vernon, WA$103,040
- Portland, OR$103,030
- Albany, OR$100,180
- Seattle, WA$99,720
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Electricians salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do electricians make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$39.88 an hour on average, and $36.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level electricians salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the electricians take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $63,563 a year ($5,297 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,950. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do electricians earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($71,490).
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 47-2111; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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