How much does a bartender make in Santa Cruz?
$36,100a year
Median yearly pay for bartenders in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $17.36 an hour or $3,008 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.36
- Vs. national median
- +5%
- Rank among cities
- 104 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 560
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $36,100Highest 10%: $70,940
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 25th | $35,130 | $16.89 | |
| Median | $36,100 | $17.36 | |
| 75th | $37,450 | $18.00 | |
| 90th | $70,940 | $34.11 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for bartenders.
| San Jose, CA | $42,270 |
| San Francisco, CA | $39,670 |
| Napa, CA | $37,790 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $37,680 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36,870 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,350 |
| San Diego, CA | $36,260 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $35,810 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $35,630 |
| Oxnard, CA | $35,590 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $35,510 |
| Sacramento, CA | $35,510 |
| Hanford, CA | $35,240 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,100 |
| Riverside, CA | $34,840 |
| Stockton, CA | $34,770 |
| Merced, CA | $34,680 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,620 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $34,320 |
| Chico, CA | $34,320 |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,190 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| Cook | $46,850 |
| Cook | $44,560 |
| Cook | $43,630 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,400 |
| Cook | $39,140 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,110 |
| Food Server | $37,860 |
| Dishwasher | $37,380 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $17.36 ($36,100 a year).
Do bartenders make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $36,100 against $34,340 nationally, 5% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,220, so Santa Cruz pays 0% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for bartender pay?
104 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a bartender make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $70,940 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.