SOC 11-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
In Santa Cruz, CA the median wage for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary reaches $157,630 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Santa Cruz, CA the median wage for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary reaches $157,630 a year. That is 48.9% more than the national median of $105,870. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $124,120 and $169,860. The lowest tenth earn under $83,100, while the highest tenth earn more than $197,630.
Employment stands at 230, or 2.4 jobs per thousand held locally. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $165,520. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 24th of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,100 | −21.5% |
| 25th | $124,120 | +17.2% |
| Median (50th) | $157,630 | +48.9% |
| 75th | $169,860 | +60.4% |
| 90th | $197,630 | +86.7% |
| Mean | $144,710 | +36.7% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $165,520 | 1,730 | |
| 2 | San Diego | $163,200 | 2,370 | |
| 3 | Vallejo | $163,150 | 290 | |
| 4 | Visalia | $163,130 | 520 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $161,590 | 10,310 | |
| 6 | Salinas | $161,590 | 350 | |
| 7 | Riverside | $161,380 | 3,340 | |
| 8 | San Francisco | $160,820 | 3,480 | |
| 9 | Modesto | $160,240 | 460 | |
| 10 | Hanford | $159,950 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $157,630 buys what $142,394 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 34.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$157,630as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$142,394US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $157,630 a year, 48.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $83,100 to $197,630 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $165,520.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $157,630, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $105,870, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 48.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $197,630 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $83,100 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $165,520 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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