SOC 11-2022 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Sales Managers — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA is $117,090 a year, trailing the national median of $148,270 by 21.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA is $117,090 a year, trailing the national median of $148,270 by 21.0%. Half of workers earn between $78,340 and $166,870. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $60,690 and the ninetieth at $241,950.
The area has 520 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 5.3 of every thousand jobs. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $201,780. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 58th of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,690 | −59.1% |
| 25th | $78,340 | −47.2% |
| Median (50th) | $117,090 | −21.0% |
| 75th | $166,870 | +12.5% |
| 90th | $241,950 | +63.2% |
| Mean | $136,610 | −7.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $201,780 | 8,940 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $170,810 | 17,770 | |
| 3 | Napa | $137,770 | 520 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $132,330 | 37,790 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $119,750 | 8,630 | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | $117,940 | 1,360 | |
| 7 | Sacramento | $113,980 | 4,910 | |
| 8 | Oxnard | $107,720 | 2,050 | |
| 9 | Santa Maria | $107,200 | 990 | |
| 10 | Vallejo | $106,530 | 680 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $117,090 buys what $105,772 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 28.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$117,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$105,772US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $117,090 a year, 21.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,690 to $241,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 520 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $201,780.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Sales Managers in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $117,090, or $56.30 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 $148,270, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 21.0% lower. 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 $241,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,690 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 $201,780 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 520 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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