SOC 37-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA comes to $40,780 a year, ahead of the national median of $36,840 by 10.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA comes to $40,780 a year, ahead of the national median of $36,840 by 10.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,540 and $51,330. The lowest tenth earn under $36,140, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,750.
Employment stands at 1,510, or 15.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Merced leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $45,920. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 294th of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,140 | −1.9% |
| 25th | $37,540 | +1.9% |
| Median (50th) | $40,780 | +10.7% |
| 75th | $51,330 | +39.3% |
| 90th | $59,750 | +62.2% |
| Mean | $45,400 | +23.2% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merced | $45,920 | 1,240 | |
| 2 | Napa | $44,750 | 1,110 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $44,180 | 29,930 | |
| 4 | San Jose | $43,870 | 15,780 | |
| 5 | Vallejo | $43,680 | 1,780 | |
| 6 | Hanford | $43,570 | 610 | |
| 7 | Salinas | $43,570 | 1,890 | |
| 8 | San Luis Obispo | $42,990 | 1,340 | |
| 9 | Bakersfield | $42,490 | 4,060 | |
| 10 | Yuba City | $42,240 | 640 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $40,780 buys what $36,838 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 0.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$40,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,838US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $40,780 a year, 10.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,140 to $59,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,510 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Merced, at $45,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $40,780, or $19.61 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 $36,840, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 10.7% 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 $59,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,140 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 Merced, at $45,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,510 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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