Accountants and Auditors salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Accountants and Auditors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $84,920 a year ($40.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,540 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $83,680. Pay here is 12% lower than the California statewide median of $97,050. There are 7.5 accountants and auditors per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $94,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for accountants and auditors in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,650 | $26.75 |
| 25th percentile | $72,220 | $34.72 |
| Median | $84,920 | $40.83 |
| 75th percentile | $108,940 | $52.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,540 | $65.17 |
| Average (mean) | $94,640 | $45.50 |
Half of accountants and auditors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,076.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,538.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,266.15 |
| Weekly | $1,633.08 |
| Hourly | $40.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $84,920 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Accountants and Auditors salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,700 | 13,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,730 | 25,170 |
| Napa, CA | $99,640 | 520 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $96,340 | 13,450 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,800 | 690 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $94,690 | 1,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,360 | 70,640 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $92,110 | 13,170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $91,610 | 1,510 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $90,340 | 2,530 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $88,160 | 860 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $83,920 | 9,240 |
| Salinas, CA | $83,810 | 1,050 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $83,570 | 1,420 |
| Modesto, CA | $83,560 | 1,200 |
| Merced, CA | $80,420 | 360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $79,620 | 1,870 |
| Visalia, CA | $79,400 | 870 |
| Redding, CA | $78,990 | 490 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,690 | 2,810 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,530 | 280 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $78,300 | 210 |
| Chico, CA | $77,680 | 420 |
| El Centro, CA | $76,280 | 300 |
Highest-paying states for accountants and auditors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| New York | $102,640 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 |
| California | $97,050 |
| Colorado | $97,030 |
| Washington | $96,550 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 |
| Delaware | $95,020 |
See Accountants and Auditors pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $99,820 | $47.99 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $122,170 | $58.74 |
| Loan Officer | $78,940 | $37.95 |
| Tax Preparer | $71,800 | $34.52 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $62,720 | $30.16 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $101,280 | $48.69 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $84,010 | $40.39 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Management Analyst | $105,480 | $50.71 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,880 | $37.92 |
| Project Management Specialist | $106,780 | $51.34 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,250 | $37.14 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $79,480 | $38.21 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountants and auditors make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for accountants and auditors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $84,920 a year, or $40.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid accountants and auditors make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of accountants and auditors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $135,540 a year. The top 25% earn $108,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for accountants and auditors in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,650 a year, and a quarter of accountants and auditors earn $72,220 or less.
How many accountants and auditors work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 740 accountants and auditors are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.