Post job

City of Santa Cruz salary estimate

$53,014yearly

$25.49 hourly rate

Entry-level salary
$36,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

City of Santa Cruz Salaries

The City of Santa Cruz provides a range of salary options that vary by department, reflecting the responsibilities and expertise required. The average salary is $53,014 per year, with the highest compensation found in the research and development sector, averaging $60,688. Other notable salaries include $60,212 in plant and manufacturing roles, showcasing the city's commitment to rewarding skilled positions.

Salaries by Department

In contrast, departments such as education and accounting report lower average salaries of $37,750 and $50,063 respectively. This disparity emphasizes the importance of departmental choice for job seekers. Additionally, the salary landscape at the City of Santa Cruz can be compared to its competitors. For example, the City of Palo Alto leads with an average salary of $67,557, while the City of Davis follows with $59,432.

Understanding these salary dynamics helps current and prospective employees assess their potential earnings within the city, guiding their career decisions effectively.

Rate City of Santa Cruz's promotion and raise policies.

Zippia waving zebra

Do you work at City of Santa Cruz?

Were you satisfied with City of Santa Cruz's salary and benefits?

City of Santa Cruz salaries by department

Salaries at City of Santa Cruz vary depending on the department you work in. City of Santa Cruz salaries in the research & development department are the highest with an average salary of $60,688. Employees in the plant/manufacturing department at City of Santa Cruz receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $60,212 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at City of Santa Cruz include the education and the accounting organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $37,750 and $50,063, respectively.

Average City of Santa Cruz salary by department

RankDepartmentAverage City of Santa Cruz salaryHourly rate
1Research & Development$60,688$29.18
2Plant/Manufacturing$60,212$28.95
3Accounting$50,064$24.07
4Education$37,751$18.15

City of Santa Cruz competitors’ average salaries

Average salaries at City of Santa Cruz competitors, like City of Palo Alto, City of Davis, and City of San Jos, vary. City of Palo Alto employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $67,557. The average salary at City of Davis is $59,432 per year, and the average salary at City of San Jos is $51,913 per year.

Highest paying City of Santa Cruz competitors

RankCompany nameZippia scoreAverage salary
1City of Palo Alto3.8$67,557
2City of Davis3.3$59,432
3City of San Jos4.4$51,913
4City Of Moore3.3$51,879
5City of St. Louis Park3.3$51,818
6City San Bernardino4.4$51,809
7City of Garden City3.4$51,642
8City of Olathe3.2$51,523
9City of Dearborn3.4$51,335
10City of Lee's Summit3.7$42,372
11City of Northglenn3.9$39,604
12City of Cedar Park4.3$38,716
13City of Asheboro3.6$37,485
14City of Columbia3.9$37,150
15Claremore, Oklahoma3.4$37,001
16City of Brentwood4.0$36,625
17City of Sacramento4.3$35,908
18City of Orange4.2$35,656
19City of Burlington3.8$35,301
20City of Edina, MN3.8$34,525

Recently added City of Santa Cruz salaries

JobLocationDate addedSalary
Administrative Services SupervisorSanta Cruz, CA06/27/2025$78,144
Project Manager II-Sustainability and ResiliencySanta Cruz, CA06/27/2025$110,136
Information Technology Specialist III (Internal Opportunity for The City IT Department)Santa Cruz, CA06/19/2025$82,080
Accounting Technician-Multiple VacanciesSanta Cruz, CA06/19/2025$60,576
Community Service OfficerSanta Cruz, CA06/11/2025$59,808

Frequently asked questions about City of Santa Cruz salaries

Search for jobs

Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of City of Santa Cruz, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about City of Santa Cruz. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at City of Santa Cruz. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by City of Santa Cruz. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of City of Santa Cruz and its employees or that of Zippia.

City of Santa Cruz may also be known as or be related to City of Santa Cruz and Valley Santa Cruz.