How much does a computer programmer make in Santa Cruz?
$132,900a year
Median yearly pay for computer programmers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $63.87 an hour or $11,070 a month.
- Hourly
- $63.87
- Vs. national median
- +32%
- Rank among cities
- 6 of 207
- Jobs in the area
- 90
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $85,920Median: $132,900Highest 10%: $166,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $85,920 | $41.31 | |
| 25th | $106,800 | $51.32 | |
| Median | $132,900 | $63.87 | |
| 75th | $152,500 | $73.31 | |
| 90th | $166,400 | $80.01 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for computer programmers.
| San Jose, CA | $154,900 |
| San Diego, CA | $134,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $130,700 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $114,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $109,700 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $108,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $107,100 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,300 |
| Sacramento, CA | $102,600 |
| Riverside, CA | $101,800 |
| Fresno, CA | $99,370 |
| Oxnard, CA | $84,250 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Software Developer | $156,900 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester | $134,000 |
| Data Scientist | $131,000 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $124,500 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $118,800 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $114,200 |
| Computer Occupation | $108,000 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $104,700 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $103,000 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $75,720 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $63.87 ($132,900 a year).
Do computer programmers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $132,900 against $100,400 nationally, 32% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $116,800, so Santa Cruz pays 14% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for computer programmer pay?
6 of 207 metro areas with data.
How much does a computer programmer make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $85,920 or less a year; the top 10% make $166,400 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.