SOC 53-7064 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Packers and Packagers, Hand — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $36,510 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $36,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $36,510 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $36,280. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $36,120 and $39,790. The lowest tenth earn under $35,890, while the highest tenth earn more than $44,820.
The area has 390 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.11 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $42,410. Of the 328 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 320th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,890 | −1.1% |
| 25th | $36,120 | −0.4% |
| Median (50th) | $36,510 | +0.6% |
| 75th | $39,790 | +9.7% |
| 90th | $44,820 | +23.5% |
| Mean | $38,570 | +6.3% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $42,410 | 3,600 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $41,610 | 5,750 | |
| 3 | Modesto | $40,680 | 1,620 | |
| 4 | Napa | $39,070 | 310 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $38,470 | 710 | |
| 6 | Riverside | $38,400 | 10,560 | |
| 7 | Yuba City | $38,030 | 220 | |
| 8 | Vallejo | $37,950 | 690 | |
| 9 | Sacramento | $37,450 | 3,110 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $37,390 | 25,350 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $36,510 buys what $32,981 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 9.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,981US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,510 a year, 0.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,890 to $44,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 390 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $42,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Packers and Packagers, Hand in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $36,510, or $17.56 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 $36,280, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 0.6% 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 $44,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,890 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 $42,410 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 390 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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