How much does an elementary school teacher make in Santa Cruz?
$99,260a year
Median yearly pay for elementary school teachers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $47.72 an hour or $8,272 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.72
- Vs. national median
- +55%
- Rank among cities
- 22 of 383
- Jobs in the area
- 1,000
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $62,070Median: $99,260Highest 10%: $126,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,070 | $29.84 | |
| 25th | $74,270 | $35.71 | |
| Median | $99,260 | $47.72 | |
| 75th | $103,800 | $49.92 | |
| 90th | $126,200 | $60.65 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for elementary school teachers.
| Sacramento, CA | $103,400 |
| San Jose, CA | $102,900 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $101,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $101,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,600 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $101,000 |
| Vallejo, CA | $100,800 |
| Napa, CA | $100,400 |
| El Centro, CA | $100,400 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,200 |
| Merced, CA | $100,100 |
| Oxnard, CA | $99,420 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $99,060 |
| Riverside, CA | $98,520 |
| Hanford, CA | $98,470 |
| Visalia, CA | $98,430 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $97,620 |
| Stockton, CA | $97,400 |
| San Diego, CA | $97,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $97,000 |
| Chico, CA | $95,000 |
| Redding, CA | $83,780 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $79,900 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,800 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Special Education Teacher | $101,100 |
| Teacher and Instructor | $101,100 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $99,230 |
| Secondary School Teacher | $98,810 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher | $80,100 |
| Middle School Teacher | $79,490 |
| Special Education Teacher | $75,710 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Worker | $70,570 |
| Substitute Teacher | $59,900 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,120 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an elementary school teacher make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $47.72 ($99,260 a year).
Do elementary school teachers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $99,260 against $63,970 nationally, 55% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $99,650, so Santa Cruz pays 0% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for elementary school teacher pay?
22 of 383 metro areas with data.
How much does an elementary school teacher make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $62,070 or less a year; the top 10% make $126,200 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.