How much does a teaching assistant make in Santa Cruz?
$47,430a year
Median yearly pay for teaching assistants in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $22.80 an hour or $3,953 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.80
- Vs. national median
- +29%
- Rank among cities
- 16 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,060
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,080Median: $47,430Highest 10%: $60,190
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,080 | $18.31 | |
| 25th | $44,050 | $21.18 | |
| Median | $47,430 | $22.80 | |
| 75th | $55,110 | $26.50 | |
| 90th | $60,190 | $28.94 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for teaching assistants.
| San Francisco, CA | $49,360 |
| San Jose, CA | $49,010 |
| Napa, CA | $48,450 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $48,270 |
| Vallejo, CA | $48,200 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,030 |
| Modesto, CA | $47,990 |
| Oxnard, CA | $47,860 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $46,540 |
| San Diego, CA | $46,440 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $46,410 |
| Riverside, CA | $46,330 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $46,240 |
| Sacramento, CA | $45,990 |
| Yuba City, CA | $45,880 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,780 |
| Chico, CA | $45,660 |
| Stockton, CA | $45,550 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,340 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,230 |
| Merced, CA | $44,680 |
| Redding, CA | $44,430 |
| El Centro, CA | $43,970 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $38,930 |
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 |
| Middle School Teacher | $79,490 |
| Special Education Teacher | $75,710 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Worker | $70,570 |
| Substitute Teacher | $59,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistant make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $22.80 ($47,430 a year).
Do teaching assistants make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $47,430 against $36,780 nationally, 29% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $46,490, so Santa Cruz pays 2% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for teaching assistant pay?
16 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a teaching assistant make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,080 or less a year; the top 10% make $60,190 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.