How much does a middle school teacher make in Santa Cruz?
$79,490a year
Median yearly pay for middle school teachers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $38.22 an hour or $6,624 a month.
- Hourly
- $38.22
- Vs. national median
- +23%
- Rank among cities
- 62 of 357
- Jobs in the area
- 200
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $60,770Median: $79,490Highest 10%: $126,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,770 | $29.22 | |
| 25th | $71,920 | $34.58 | |
| Median | $79,490 | $38.22 | |
| 75th | $102,000 | $49.04 | |
| 90th | $126,500 | $60.80 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for middle school teachers.
| San Jose, CA | $105,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $104,300 |
| El Centro, CA | $104,100 |
| Oxnard, CA | $103,900 |
| Merced, CA | $101,800 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,300 |
| Riverside, CA | $100,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $99,360 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $98,370 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $98,020 |
| Napa, CA | $95,590 |
| Vallejo, CA | $93,680 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $93,480 |
| Hanford, CA | $92,040 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $90,870 |
| Stockton, CA | $82,030 |
| San Francisco, CA | $81,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $80,100 |
| Visalia, CA | $79,740 |
| Chico, CA | $79,300 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,760 |
| San Diego, CA | $78,460 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Special Education Teacher | $101,100 |
| Teacher and Instructor | $101,100 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $99,260 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $99,230 |
| Secondary School Teacher | $98,810 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher | $80,100 |
| 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 a middle school teacher make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $38.22 ($79,490 a year).
Do middle school teachers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $79,490 against $64,370 nationally, 23% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $98,950, so Santa Cruz pays 20% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for middle school teacher pay?
62 of 357 metro areas with data.
How much does a middle school teacher make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $60,770 or less a year; the top 10% make $126,500 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.