Cashier Salary in Santa Cruz, CA
Cashiers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median $37,390 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,252 take-home, or $2,604 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cashier salary in Santa Cruz, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,307
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,318
- Medicare (1.45%)$542
- California income tax$485
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$486
- Take-home pay$31,252
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cashier pay by experience in Santa Cruz, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,720 | $17.17 | $29,999 | $2,500 |
| 25th percentile | $36,430 | $17.51 | $30,531 | $2,544 |
| Median (50th) | $37,390 | $17.98 | $31,252 | $2,604 |
| 75th percentile | $42,940 | $20.64 | $35,417 | $2,951 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,570 | $24.79 | $41,802 | $3,484 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,390 buys in Santa Cruz, CA
Prices in Santa Cruz, CA are 9.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.64× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cashier's $31,252 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,438 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Santa Cruz, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of cashier jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cashiers, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Cruz, CA ranks #63 of 202 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $44,210 | $37,703 | $33,926 |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | $34,960 | $29,219 | $32,172 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $42,960 | $35,432 | $32,088 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | $33,420 | $29,033 | $31,950 |
| 5 | Kennewick, WA | $36,610 | $31,596 | $31,571 |
| 6 | Duluth, MN | $33,020 | $27,764 | $31,277 |
| 7 | Spokane, WA | $36,290 | $31,339 | $31,231 |
| 8 | St. Cloud, MN | $32,480 | $27,359 | $31,220 |
| 63 | Santa Cruz, CA | $37,390 | $31,252 | $28,438 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 202 metros →
Cashier salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $42,960
- Santa Rosa, CA — $38,440
- San Francisco, CA — $41,270
- Modesto, CA — $36,490
- Bakersfield, CA — $35,220
- Visalia, CA — $34,770
- Vallejo, CA — $37,810
- Fresno, CA — $35,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cashier make in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median cashier salary in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $37,390 a year, or about $17.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,430 and $42,940.
What is a cashier’s take-home pay in Santa Cruz, CA?
On the median $37,390 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,252 a year ($2,604 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $971 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Cruz, CA a good place to work as a cashier?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $32,880. Local prices are 9.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,438 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Cruz, CA ranks #63 of 202 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cashier afford rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Cruz, CA is $3,298 a month ($4,214 for two bedrooms) — 127% of a median cashier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
- Retail Salesperson — $38,620