How much does a nurse practitioner make in Santa Cruz?
$167,200a year
Median yearly pay for nurse practitioners in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $80.38 an hour or $13,930 a month.
- Hourly
- $80.38
- Vs. national median
- +26%
- Rank among cities
- 9 of 383
- Jobs in the area
- 190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $126,500Median: $167,200Highest 10%: $218,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $126,500 | $60.84 | |
| 25th | $136,000 | $65.37 | |
| Median | $167,200 | $80.38 | |
| 75th | $200,600 | $96.45 | |
| 90th | $218,700 | $105.13 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for nurse practitioners.
| San Jose, CA | $231,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $219,100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $182,400 |
| Napa, CA | $176,300 |
| Modesto, CA | $173,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $172,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $169,900 |
| Hanford, CA | $168,500 |
| Chico, CA | $167,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $167,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $166,600 |
| Salinas, CA | $166,100 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $165,600 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $165,600 |
| Yuba City, CA | $165,000 |
| El Centro, CA | $164,700 |
| San Diego, CA | $163,900 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $163,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $161,500 |
| Redding, CA | $160,500 |
| Visalia, CA | $159,400 |
| Stockton, CA | $159,200 |
| Merced, CA | $158,800 |
| Oxnard, CA | $148,800 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $431,000 |
| Physician | $305,600 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $291,900 |
| Dentist | $176,000 |
| Registered Nurse | $171,000 |
| Veterinarian | $164,800 |
| Pharmacist | $161,900 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,000 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,900 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $80.38 ($167,200 a year).
Do nurse practitioners make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $167,200 against $132,300 nationally, 26% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $168,500, so Santa Cruz pays 1% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for nurse practitioner pay?
9 of 383 metro areas with data.
How much does a nurse practitioner make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $126,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $218,700 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.