Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Education Administrators, Postsecondary in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $172,410 a year ($82.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $109,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $286,700 for the top 10%. That is 65% higher than the national median of $104,590. Pay here is 37% higher than the California statewide median of $125,460. There are 0.53 education administrators, postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $183,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for education administrators, postsecondary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $109,620 | $52.70 |
| 25th percentile | $128,630 | $61.84 |
| Median | $172,410 | $82.89 |
| 75th percentile | $218,390 | $105.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $286,700 | $137.84 |
| Average (mean) | $183,730 | $88.33 |
Half of education administrators, postsecondary 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 | $14,367.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,183.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,631.15 |
| Weekly | $3,315.58 |
| Hourly | $82.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $172,410 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $165,620 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $156,010 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $154,140 | 1,450 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $153,950 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,030 | 1,720 |
| Vallejo, CA | $132,500 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $128,270 | 640 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $126,620 | 860 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $125,470 | 1,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,230 | 6,050 |
| Modesto, CA | $123,830 | 150 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $123,260 | 260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $119,160 | 170 |
| Chico, CA | $118,710 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $118,130 | 360 |
| Redding, CA | $102,420 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $99,990 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for education administrators, postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $139,640 |
| New Jersey | $131,570 |
| Massachusetts | $128,970 |
| Delaware | $128,570 |
| Wyoming | $127,960 |
| Washington | $127,630 |
| South Dakota | $126,160 |
| California | $125,460 |
| Wisconsin | $124,960 |
| Connecticut | $123,190 |
See Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $138,640 | $66.66 |
| Managers, All Other | $170,650 | $82.04 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $81,130 | $39.00 |
| 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 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $206,880 | $99.46 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $109,890 | $52.83 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $202,380 | $97.30 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $77,610 | $37.31 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,360 | $50.65 |
| Sales Manager | $117,090 | $56.30 |
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 11-9033. 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 education administrators, postsecondary make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for education administrators, postsecondary in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $172,410 a year, or $82.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $109,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $286,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid education administrators, postsecondary make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of education administrators, postsecondary in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $286,700 a year. The top 25% earn $218,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for education administrators, postsecondary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $109,620 a year, and a quarter of education administrators, postsecondary earn $128,630 or less.
How many education administrators, postsecondary work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 50 education administrators, postsecondary are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.