SOC 29-1215 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Family Medicine Physicians — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA comes to $291,880 a year, ahead of the national median of $244,180 by 19.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA comes to $291,880 a year, ahead of the national median of $244,180 by 19.5%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $266,520 and $420,170. The lowest tenth earn under $165,990, while the highest tenth earn more than $446,730.
Salinas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $410,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 3rd of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $165,990 | −32.0% |
| 25th | $266,520 | +9.1% |
| Median (50th) | $291,880 | +19.5% |
| 75th | $420,170 | +72.1% |
| 90th | $446,730 | +83.0% |
| Mean | $311,700 | +27.7% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinas | $410,370 | 320 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $351,760 | 1,120 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $345,310 | 830 | |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo | $345,310 | — | |
| 5 | Bakersfield | $332,530 | 190 | |
| 6 | Vallejo | $306,500 | 100 | |
| 7 | San Francisco | $304,560 | 2,170 | |
| 8 | Napa | $299,710 | 90 | |
| 9 | Riverside | $298,890 | — | |
| 10 | San Diego | $295,530 | 1,360 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $291,880 buys what $263,668 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$291,880as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$263,668US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $291,880 a year, 19.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $165,990 to $446,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salinas, at $410,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Family Medicine Physicians in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $291,880, or $140.33 per hour, 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 $244,180, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 19.5% 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 $446,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $165,990 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 Salinas, at $410,370 per year.
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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