Helpers--Carpenters pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,090 or more. The middle half of helpers--carpenters in Santa Cruz earn between $59,090 and $59,090.
- $53K10th
- $59K25th
- $59KMedian
- $59K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,160 | $4,847 | $27.96 |
| Median | $59,090 | $4,924 | $28.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,090 | $4,924 | $28.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,090 | $4,924 | $28.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Helpers--Carpenters pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Helpers--carpenters in Santa Cruz earn 7% more than the California average ($54,530) and 32% more than the U.S. average ($44,050). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $43,780.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $58,160 | $59,090 | $52,980 | $59,090 | 50 |
| California | $54,530 | $49,890 | $36,690 | $76,080 | 2,670 |
| United States | $44,050 | $43,780 | $31,660 | $57,670 | 21,680 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Helpers--Carpenters salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $58,160, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $47,229 a year, or $3,936 a month and $1,817 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 helpers--carpenters? 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 $58,160 buys what about $52,923 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 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.
Helpers--Carpenters salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 3rd of 8 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($62,310).
- Los Angeles$62,310
- San Francisco$60,900
- Santa Cruz$58,160
- Sacramento$49,950
- Stockton$47,950
- Oxnard$47,610
- San Diego$45,590
- Riverside$45,340
Highest-paying cities for helpers--carpenters
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($62,310).
- Los Angeles, CA$62,310
- San Francisco, CA$60,900
- Santa Cruz, CA$58,160
- Wenatchee, WA$52,960
- New Haven, CT$52,920
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Helpers--Carpenters salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do helpers--carpenters make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$27.96 an hour on average, and $28.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level helpers--carpenters salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the helpers--carpenters take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $47,229 a year ($3,936 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,160. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do helpers--carpenters earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% more than the U.S. average for this job ($44,050).
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 47-3012; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 3.30, this job is 3.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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