Acupuncturist salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Acupuncturists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $91,350 a year ($43.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,750 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $76,040. Pay here is 21% higher than the California statewide median of $75,530. There are 0.50 acupuncturists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 9.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,660, close to the median.
Pay range for acupuncturists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| 25th percentile | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| Median | $91,350 | $43.92 |
| 75th percentile | $91,350 | $43.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Average (mean) | $76,660 | $36.86 |
Half of acupuncturists 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 | $7,612.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,806.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,513.46 |
| Weekly | $1,756.73 |
| Hourly | $43.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $91,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Acupuncturist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,390 | n/a |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $86,530 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $70,080 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $64,490 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $64,420 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,590 | 450 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52,000 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for acupuncturists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee | $141,430 |
| New Jersey | $125,260 |
| Indiana | $120,490 |
| Maryland | $101,650 |
| Massachusetts | $93,360 |
| Missouri | $89,000 |
| New York | $86,120 |
| Arizona | $85,300 |
| Kentucky | $85,130 |
| Wisconsin | $84,820 |
See Acupuncturist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,190 | $80.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $305,610 | $146.93 |
| Pharmacist | $161,940 | $77.86 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Veterinarian | $164,820 | $79.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,030 | $76.46 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,670 | $57.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $130,420 | $62.70 |
| Dentists, General | $175,950 | $84.59 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,880 | $64.85 |
| Optometrist | $122,150 | $58.73 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $103,760 | $49.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 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 29-1291. 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 acupuncturist make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for acupuncturists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $91,350 a year, or $43.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid acupuncturists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of acupuncturists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $93,750 a year. The top 25% earn $91,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for acupuncturists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,630 a year, and a quarter of acupuncturists earn $47,360 or less.
How many acupuncturists work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 50 acupuncturists are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.