How much does a teacher and instructor make in Santa Cruz?
$101,100a year
Median yearly pay for teacher and instructors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $48.58 an hour or $8,421 a month.
- Hourly
- $48.58
- Vs. national median
- +53%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 244
- Jobs in the area
- 210
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $44,890Median: $101,100Highest 10%: $117,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,890 | $21.58 | |
| 25th | $61,820 | $29.72 | |
| Median | $101,100 | $48.58 | |
| 75th | $102,800 | $49.42 | |
| 90th | $117,400 | $56.45 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for teacher and instructors.
| Salinas, CA | $113,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $105,200 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,900 |
| Stockton, CA | $99,820 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $97,680 |
| Riverside, CA | $97,070 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $96,820 |
| Chico, CA | $95,420 |
| Merced, CA | $93,400 |
| Hanford, CA | $86,710 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $85,640 |
| Napa, CA | $84,420 |
| Visalia, CA | $83,410 |
| Sacramento, CA | $81,720 |
| Yuba City, CA | $81,320 |
| San Diego, CA | $80,460 |
| San Francisco, CA | $79,250 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $78,820 |
| Vallejo, CA | $78,760 |
| San Jose, CA | $77,720 |
| Oxnard, CA | $77,230 |
| El Centro, CA | $77,110 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $76,640 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Special Education Teacher | $101,100 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $99,260 |
| 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 a teacher and instructor make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $48.58 ($101,100 a year).
Do teacher and instructors make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $101,100 against $66,140 nationally, 53% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $87,460, so Santa Cruz pays 16% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for teacher and instructor pay?
7 of 244 metro areas with data.
How much does a teacher and instructor make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $44,890 or less a year; the top 10% make $117,400 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.