SOC 29-2061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Santa Cruz, CA is $81,000 per year, well above the national median of $64,400.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Santa Cruz, CA is $81,000 per year, well above the national median of $64,400. The gap of 25.8% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $64,510 at the tenth percentile to more than $101,820 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $76,540 to $96,960.
Employment stands at 340, or 3.4 jobs per thousand held locally. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $95,320. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 111th of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,510 | +0.2% |
| 25th | $76,540 | +18.9% |
| Median (50th) | $81,000 | +25.8% |
| 75th | $96,960 | +50.6% |
| 90th | $101,820 | +58.1% |
| Mean | $83,910 | +30.3% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $95,320 | 3,290 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $94,310 | 8,800 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $92,580 | 870 | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $85,430 | 870 | |
| 5 | Napa | $83,690 | 280 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $81,570 | 4,760 | |
| 7 | Salinas | $80,910 | 710 | |
| 8 | San Luis Obispo | $79,940 | 440 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $79,720 | 6,610 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $79,310 | 33,590 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $81,000 buys what $73,171 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 13.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,171US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,000 a year, 25.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,510 to $101,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $95,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $81,000, or $38.94 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 $64,400, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 25.8% 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 $101,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,510 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 $95,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 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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