SalaryExplorer

SOC 43-4171 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Receptionists and Information ClerksSanta Cruz

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared

$44,980 /year
$21.63per hour
510jobs in area
+18.3%vs US median

In Santa Cruz, CA the median wage for Receptionists and Information Clerks is $44,980 a year, which is 18.3% higher than the national figure of $38,010.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $38,01010TH$36,410MEDIAN$44,98075TH$49,81090TH$62,360

Salary overview

In Santa Cruz, CA the median wage for Receptionists and Information Clerks is $44,980 a year, which is 18.3% higher than the national figure of $38,010. Half of workers earn between $38,980 and $49,810. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $36,410 and the ninetieth at $62,360.

The area has 510 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 5.2 of every thousand jobs. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,450. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 269th of 328 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$36,410−4.2%
25th$38,980+2.6%
Median (50th)$44,980+18.3%
75th$49,810+31.0%
90th$62,360+64.1%
Mean$46,610+22.6%

Other metro areas in California

Median annual wage for Receptionists and Information Clerks, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1San Francisco$49,4508,510
2San Jose$47,1303,990
3Napa$46,850280
4Hanford$45,650180
5Santa Rosa$45,5501,160
6Vallejo$45,500720
7Sacramento$45,1404,570
8San Luis Obispo$44,890690
9Modesto$44,610890
10San Diego$44,3906,690

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $44,980 buys what $40,632 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.9% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$44,980as reported by BLS

Local price level

110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$40,632US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $44,980 a year, 18.3% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $36,410 to $62,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 510 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $49,450.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Receptionists and Information Clerks in Santa Cruz, CA?

The median annual wage is $44,980, or $21.63 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 $38,010, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 18.3% 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 $62,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $36,410 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 Francisco, at $49,450 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 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.

Receptionists and Information Clerks in Santa Cruz, CA Earn $44,980 — 18.3% Above Average (2025) | Salary Explorer