How much does a childcare worker make in Santa Cruz?
$38,050a year
Median yearly pay for childcare workers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $18.29 an hour or $3,171 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.29
- Vs. national median
- +9%
- Rank among cities
- 34 of 385
- Jobs in the area
- 330
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,230Median: $38,050Highest 10%: $48,470
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,230 | $16.94 | |
| 25th | $35,650 | $17.14 | |
| Median | $38,050 | $18.29 | |
| 75th | $45,290 | $21.77 | |
| 90th | $48,470 | $23.30 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for childcare workers.
| San Jose, CA | $45,720 |
| San Francisco, CA | $44,540 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $42,860 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,920 |
| Napa, CA | $41,570 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $41,260 |
| Riverside, CA | $40,210 |
| Stockton, CA | $40,010 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $39,890 |
| San Diego, CA | $39,800 |
| Salinas, CA | $39,520 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,850 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,390 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,390 |
| Oxnard, CA | $38,340 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,220 |
| Redding, CA | $37,820 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,550 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,190 |
| Hanford, CA | $36,890 |
| Chico, CA | $36,660 |
| Merced, CA | $36,590 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,480 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $36,190 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Santa Cruz, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $18.29 ($38,050 a year).
Do childcare workers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $38,050 against $34,980 nationally, 9% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $40,020, so Santa Cruz pays 5% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for childcare worker pay?
34 of 385 metro areas with data.
How much does a childcare worker make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,230 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,470 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.