Graphic Designers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $108,280 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Santa Cruz earn between $48,130 and $89,000.
- $42K10th
- $48K25th
- $65KMedian
- $89K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,440 | $6,120 | $35.31 |
| Median | $64,510 | $5,376 | $31.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,130 | $4,011 | $23.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,000 | $7,417 | $42.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Santa Cruz earn 15% less than the California average ($86,800) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $73,440 | $64,510 | $42,260 | $108,280 | 90 |
| California | $86,800 | $75,130 | $46,190 | $129,560 | 27,390 |
| United States | $70,560 | $62,960 | $39,520 | $104,910 | 197,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Graphic Designers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $73,440, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $57,692 a year, or $4,808 a month and $2,219 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 graphic designers? 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 $73,440 buys what about $66,827 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 15.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Graphic Designers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 12th of 20 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($107,360).
- San Jose$107,360
- San Francisco$102,130
- Santa Maria$84,370
- Santa Rosa$82,320
- Los Angeles$81,680
- Vallejo$81,440
- Sacramento$80,000
- Napa$79,990
- Oxnard$79,010
- Santa Cruz$73,440
Highest-paying cities for graphic designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,360).
- San Jose, CA$107,360
- San Francisco, CA$102,130
- Portland, OR$92,530
- Washington, DC$89,540
- New York, NY$85,950
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Graphic Designers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$35.31 an hour on average, and $31.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $57,692 a year ($4,808 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,440. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do graphic designers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($70,560).
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 27-1024; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.9%.
- 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 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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