Chief Executive salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Chief Executives in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $209,080 a year ($100.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $442,310 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $218,600. There are 2.3 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $246,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,040 | $43.29 |
| 25th percentile | $133,610 | $64.24 |
| Median | $209,080 | $100.52 |
| 75th percentile | $316,600 | $152.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $442,310 | $212.65 |
| Average (mean) | $246,710 | $118.61 |
Half of chief executives 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 | $17,423.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,711.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,041.54 |
| Weekly | $4,020.77 |
| Hourly | $100.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $209,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $288,690 | 5,190 |
| Napa, CA | $241,590 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $238,440 | 2,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $234,290 | 10,800 |
| Salinas, CA | $226,270 | 220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $218,690 | 350 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $214,340 | 310 |
| Yuba City, CA | $209,060 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $202,750 | 430 |
| Modesto, CA | $200,900 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $195,650 | 360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $195,400 | 390 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $190,020 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $188,930 | 700 |
| Merced, CA | $181,660 | 100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $180,180 | 180 |
| El Centro, CA | $177,950 | 60 |
| Chico, CA | $176,750 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $176,700 | 1,920 |
| Redding, CA | $170,770 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $169,770 | 3,680 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $160,950 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $155,510 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $105,360 | $50.65 |
| Sales Manager | $117,090 | $56.30 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $138,640 | $66.66 |
| Financial Manager | $165,800 | $79.71 |
| Managers, All Other | $170,650 | $82.04 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $117,010 | $56.25 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $81,130 | $39.00 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $198,770 | $95.56 |
| Food Service Manager | $77,470 | $37.25 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $157,630 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $71,070 | $34.17 |
| Construction Manager | $128,730 | $61.89 |
| Marketing Manager | $168,980 | $81.24 |
| Human Resources Manager | $164,570 | $79.12 |
More: Management 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 11-1011. 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 chief executive make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for chief executives in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $209,080 a year, or $100.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $442,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $442,310 a year. The top 25% earn $316,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,040 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $133,610 or less.
How many chief executives work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 220 chief executives are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.