Paramedics pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,630 or more. The middle half of paramedics in Santa Cruz earn between $66,140 and $83,550.
- $52K10th
- $66K25th
- $71KMedian
- $84K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,870 | $6,322 | $36.48 |
| Median | $71,390 | $5,949 | $34.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,140 | $5,512 | $31.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,550 | $6,962 | $40.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paramedics pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Paramedics in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($77,740) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($63,360). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $60,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $75,870 | $71,390 | $52,280 | $100,630 | 40 |
| California | $77,740 | $74,590 | $53,370 | $102,450 | 5,190 |
| United States | $63,360 | $60,600 | $44,230 | $84,850 | 100,610 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Paramedics salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $75,870, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $59,207 a year, or $4,934 a month and $2,277 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 paramedics? 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 $75,870 buys what about $69,038 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 15.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Paramedics salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 10th of 16 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($92,860).
- San Francisco$92,860
- San Jose$92,750
- Salinas$88,690
- San Luis Obispo$85,630
- Redding$82,630
- Oxnard$82,190
- Sacramento$79,940
- Los Angeles$77,280
- Santa Rosa$76,340
- Santa Cruz$75,870
Highest-paying cities for paramedics
Bellingham, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,190).
- Bellingham, WA$119,190
- Seattle, WA$117,660
- Bremerton, WA$110,800
- Olympia, WA$109,680
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,520
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Paramedics salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do paramedics make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$36.48 an hour on average, and $34.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paramedics salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paramedics take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $59,207 a year ($4,934 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,870. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do paramedics earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,360).
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 29-2043; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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