Training and Development Specialists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,790 or more. The middle half of training and development specialists in Santa Cruz earn between $50,120 and $99,090.
- $45K10th
- $50K25th
- $77KMedian
- $99K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,590 | $6,716 | $38.75 |
| Median | $77,400 | $6,450 | $37.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,120 | $4,177 | $24.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,090 | $8,258 | $47.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Training and Development Specialists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Training and development specialists in Santa Cruz earn 4% less than the California average ($84,110) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($75,550). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $69,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $80,590 | $77,400 | $44,930 | $127,790 | 280 |
| California | $84,110 | $75,790 | $43,320 | $134,270 | 46,530 |
| United States | $75,550 | $69,280 | $38,760 | $123,250 | 458,300 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Training and Development Specialists salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $80,590, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $62,122 a year, or $5,177 a month and $2,389 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 training and development specialists? 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 $80,590 buys what about $73,333 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 14.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Training and Development Specialists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 10th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($109,240).
- San Jose$109,240
- San Francisco$100,800
- San Luis Obispo$89,500
- Napa$87,080
- Vallejo$83,270
- Santa Maria$83,050
- Sacramento$82,910
- San Diego$82,430
- Modesto$81,590
- Santa Cruz$80,590
All Training and Development Specialists salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for training and development specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,240).
- San Jose, CA$109,240
- San Francisco, CA$100,800
- Kennewick, WA$100,740
- Decatur, AL$100,190
- Norwich, CT$96,400
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Training and Development Specialists salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do training and development specialists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$38.75 an hour on average, and $37.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level training and development specialists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the training and development specialists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $62,122 a year ($5,177 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,590. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do training and development specialists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($75,550).
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 13-1151; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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