Tax Preparer salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Tax Preparers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $71,800 a year ($34.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,730 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is 3% higher than the California statewide median of $70,030. There are 0.59 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $66,290, close to the median.
Pay range for tax preparers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| 25th percentile | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| Median | $71,800 | $34.52 |
| 75th percentile | $75,340 | $36.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,730 | $45.06 |
| Average (mean) | $66,290 | $31.87 |
Half of tax preparers 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 | $5,983.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,991.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,761.54 |
| Weekly | $1,380.77 |
| Hourly | $34.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $71,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tax Preparer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,240 | 1,410 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $81,180 | 760 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,170 | 690 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $65,930 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,120 | 3,250 |
| Modesto, CA | $64,630 | 170 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,060 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $62,050 | 260 |
| Vallejo, CA | $61,930 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,460 | 110 |
| Redding, CA | $61,200 | 60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,480 | n/a |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,430 | 740 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $59,490 | n/a |
| Fresno, CA | $58,970 | 250 |
| Chico, CA | $41,600 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for tax preparers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $71,850 |
| California | $70,030 |
| Utah | $66,720 |
| Montana | $63,080 |
| Missouri | $62,780 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| Alaska | $62,360 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 |
| Oregon | $61,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 |
See Tax Preparer 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 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $62,720 | $30.16 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $101,280 | $48.69 |
| 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 13-2082. 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 tax preparer make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for tax preparers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $71,800 a year, or $34.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $93,730 a year. The top 25% earn $75,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,530 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $44,900 or less.
How many tax preparers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 60 tax preparers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.