Carpenter salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Carpenters in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $77,690 a year ($37.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 700 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,300 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $60,580. Pay here is 2% higher than the California statewide median of $75,920. There are 7.1 carpenters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $78,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for carpenters in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| 25th percentile | $61,980 | $29.80 |
| Median | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| 75th percentile | $92,230 | $44.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,300 | $54.95 |
| Average (mean) | $78,270 | $37.63 |
Half of carpenters 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 | $6,474.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,237.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,988.08 |
| Weekly | $1,494.04 |
| Hourly | $37.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,690 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Carpenter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $89,200 | 14,010 |
| Napa, CA | $80,590 | 650 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,520 | 2,150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $80,190 | 4,460 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $77,220 | 820 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,220 | 660 |
| Yuba City, CA | $76,100 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,740 | 30,600 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $75,140 | 1,100 |
| Merced, CA | $74,760 | 350 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $74,440 | 9,730 |
| El Centro, CA | $74,340 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $74,060 | 2,050 |
| Modesto, CA | $73,730 | 1,430 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $73,250 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $73,200 | 8,710 |
| Chico, CA | $72,290 | 390 |
| Redding, CA | $71,750 | 310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $70,880 | 12,970 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $69,160 | 1,260 |
| Salinas, CA | $67,530 | 1,210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $66,540 | 1,100 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,390 | 650 |
| Fresno, CA | $63,470 | 1,790 |
Highest-paying states for carpenters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,280 |
| Illinois | $79,000 |
| California | $75,920 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 |
| Washington | $74,190 |
| Alaska | $73,860 |
| New York | $72,330 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 |
See Carpenter pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $58,500 | $28.13 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $68,130 | $32.75 |
| Electrician | $76,610 | $36.83 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Roofer | $61,640 | $29.64 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $75,640 | $36.36 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $74,740 | $35.93 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | $68,210 | $32.79 |
| Glazier | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $59,770 | $28.73 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $69,550 | $33.44 |
| Stonemason | $59,620 | $28.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $87,180 | $41.91 |
More: Construction and Extraction 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 47-2031. 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 carpenter make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for carpenters in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $77,690 a year, or $37.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid carpenters make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of carpenters in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $114,300 a year. The top 25% earn $92,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for carpenters in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,220 a year, and a quarter of carpenters earn $61,980 or less.
How many carpenters work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 700 carpenters are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.