Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Bookkeeper Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metropolitan area, bookkeepers earned a median annual wage of $58,800 ($28.27/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,300/year and the 90th was $81,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $47,858 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 109.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$58,800$28.27 per hour · $4,900 monthly
10th Percentile$41,300$19.86/hr base
25th Percentile$48,200$23.17/hr base
75th Percentile$70,100$33.70/hr base
90th Percentile$81,400$39.13/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$58,800
$20,000$120,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$58,800
Net 81%
Fed 8%
CA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$47,858After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,988Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,841Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,876 / yr
California state income tax$1,568 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,498 / yr

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Wage Percentiles in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$19.86/hr$3,442$41,300$34,730
25th Percentile$23.17/hr$4,017$48,200$39,977
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$28.27/hr$4,900$58,800$47,858
75th Percentile$33.70/hr$5,842$70,100$55,763
90th Percentile$39.13/hr$6,783$81,400$62,770

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$58,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$111,093Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index109.99.9% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio52.9%of area median income

Compare bookkeepers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

What is the median salary for bookkeepers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for bookkeepers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $58,800, which equates to approximately $4,900 per month or $28.27 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for bookkeepers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

The median hourly wage for bookkeepers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $28.27 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $19.86/hour and one in ten earned more than $39.13/hour.

What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

BLS wage estimates for bookkeepers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA span from $41,300 at the 10th percentile to $48,200 at the 25th, $70,100 at the 75th, and $81,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do bookkeepers take home after taxes in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

On a median gross salary of $58,800, an estimated $47,858 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,841 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $10,942 (an effective rate of 18.6%).

How much do bookkeepers make per month in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

On the median annual salary of $58,800, gross monthly income is $4,900. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,988 per month (or $1,841 every two weeks).

Is $58,800 a good salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

At $58,800, the median salary for bookkeepers is 52.9% of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA median household income ($111,093). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 109.9, making regional consumer goods and services 9.9% more expensive than the U.S. average.