Industrial Engineers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $172,180 or more. The middle half of industrial engineers in Santa Cruz earn between $107,110 and $163,210.
- $85K10th
- $107K25th
- $132KMedian
- $163K75th
- $172K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $131,440 | $10,953 | $63.19 |
| Median | $131,740 | $10,978 | $63.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $107,110 | $8,926 | $51.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $163,210 | $13,601 | $78.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Industrial Engineers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Industrial engineers in Santa Cruz earn 4% more than the California average ($125,850) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($109,900). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $102,440.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $131,440 | $131,740 | $84,710 | $172,180 | 120 |
| California | $125,850 | $124,600 | $77,900 | $172,870 | 32,680 |
| United States | $109,900 | $102,440 | $74,370 | $159,860 | 365,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Industrial Engineers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $131,440, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $92,973 a year, or $7,748 a month and $3,576 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 industrial engineers? 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 $131,440 buys what about $119,604 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Industrial Engineers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 3rd of 22 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($145,190).
- San Jose$145,190
- San Francisco$139,350
- Santa Cruz$131,440
- Santa Maria$121,840
- Los Angeles$121,280
- Santa Rosa$120,700
- San Diego$120,260
- Sacramento$118,940
- Vallejo$118,410
- Napa$112,040
Highest-paying cities for industrial engineers
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($169,380).
- Anchorage, AK$169,380
- Midland, TX$151,520
- San Jose, CA$145,190
- Lexington Park, MD$141,280
- Charleston, WV$140,560
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Industrial Engineers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do industrial engineers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$63.19 an hour on average, and $63.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level industrial engineers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $107,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the industrial engineers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $92,973 a year ($7,748 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $131,440. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do industrial engineers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($109,900).
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 17-2112; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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