Financial Risk Specialist salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Financial Risk Specialists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $101,280 a year ($48.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $86,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,620 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $117,330. Pay here is 22% lower than the California statewide median of $129,110. There are 0.38 financial risk specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $108,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for financial risk specialists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,320 | $41.50 |
| 25th percentile | $87,360 | $42.00 |
| Median | $101,280 | $48.69 |
| 75th percentile | $135,480 | $65.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,620 | $65.20 |
| Average (mean) | $108,490 | $52.16 |
Half of financial risk specialists 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 | $8,440 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,220 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,895.38 |
| Weekly | $1,947.69 |
| Hourly | $48.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $101,280 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Financial Risk Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $167,440 | 1,380 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,240 | 480 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $122,530 | 290 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $121,010 | 380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $113,230 | 1,540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,640 | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $96,310 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $93,310 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for financial risk specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $158,320 |
| Maine | $141,020 |
| Delaware | $139,440 |
| New York | $136,830 |
| North Carolina | $132,040 |
| Massachusetts | $130,400 |
| New Jersey | $129,220 |
| California | $129,110 |
| Virginia | $126,510 |
| Washington | $123,150 |
See Financial Risk Specialist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,920 | $40.83 |
| 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 |
| 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 13-2054. 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 financial risk specialist make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for financial risk specialists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $101,280 a year, or $48.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $86,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid financial risk specialists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of financial risk specialists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $135,620 a year. The top 25% earn $135,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for financial risk specialists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $86,320 a year, and a quarter of financial risk specialists earn $87,360 or less.
How many financial risk specialists work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 40 financial risk specialists are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.