LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Childcare Workers in Santa Cruz, CA · Generated August 17, 2026
Childcare Workers Salary in Santa Cruz, CA $38,050/yr
$38,050
Mean: $41,210
~$29,679 est. take-home
$18.29
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Difficult
Affordability score: 12/100
$123/mo
5%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$35,650
Median
$38,050
75th %
$45,290
Median is in the 25th percentile of the typical range
Childcare Workers in other CA cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in CA.
About Childcare Workers salaries in Santa Cruz, CA
Childcare Workers in Santa Cruz, CA earn a median of $38,050 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $41,210, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most childcare workers in this area earn between $35,650 and $45,290. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $18.29 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
2% growth. Demand for childcare is enormous, but the pay hasn't kept up — it's one of the lowest-paid occupations relative to how important the work is. Some states are starting to subsidize childcare worker wages to address the shortage.
Worth knowing: Getting a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or associate's degree opens the door to preschool teaching or childcare center director roles, both of which pay significantly more.
Childcare Workers Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
Median: $38,050/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a childcare workers in Santa Cruz?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $38,050. The average (mean) is $41,210, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a childcare workers make per hour in Santa Cruz?▾
About $18.29/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for childcare workers in Santa Cruz?▾
The middle 50% earn between $35,650 and $45,290. Below $35,650 is typically entry-level; above $45,290 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $38,050 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $38,050 | $29,679 |
| Monthly | $3,171 | $2,473 |
| Biweekly | $1,463 | $1,142 |
| Weekly | $732 | $571 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $18.29 | $14.27 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $20.91 | $16.31 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $24.39 | $19.02 |
| Daily (8h) | $146 | $114 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Childcare Workers: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for childcare workers, based on BLS median salary data.
Related Occupations in Santa Cruz
Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Childcare Workers salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for childcare workers across all states.
- All CA salary data — every occupation we cover in CA, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Childcare Workers in North Port, FL — the top-paying city for childcare workers in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Santa Cruz.
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