Firefighters pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,550 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Santa Cruz earn between $54,120 and $90,290.
- $41K10th
- $54K25th
- $65KMedian
- $90K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,110 | $5,926 | $34.19 |
| Median | $64,980 | $5,415 | $31.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,120 | $4,510 | $26.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $90,290 | $7,524 | $43.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Firefighters in Santa Cruz earn 25% less than the California average ($95,090) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $71,110 | $64,980 | $40,590 | $99,550 | 380 |
| California | $95,090 | $85,120 | $52,390 | $136,150 | 31,470 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $71,110, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $56,240 a year, or $4,687 a month and $2,163 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 firefighters? 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 $71,110 buys what about $64,707 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 16.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 21st of 25 California metro areas for this job; Bakersfield pays the most ($199,490).
- Bakersfield$199,490
- San Jose$134,270
- San Francisco$110,590
- Los Angeles$108,860
- Vallejo$99,530
- Sacramento$97,420
- Stockton$89,710
- Santa Maria$87,660
- Santa Rosa$86,410
- Santa Cruz$71,110
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$34.19 an hour on average, and $31.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $56,240 a year ($4,687 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,110. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
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 33-2011; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 1.73, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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