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

Office Clerk Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metropolitan area, office clerks earned a median annual wage of $48,100 ($23.13/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,900/year and the 90th was $72,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $39,903 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 109.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$48,100$23.13 per hour · $4,008 monthly
10th Percentile$35,900$17.26/hr base
25th Percentile$40,100$19.28/hr base
75th Percentile$59,700$28.70/hr base
90th Percentile$72,700$34.95/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

$48,100
$15,000$100,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$48,100
Net 83%
Fed 7%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$39,903After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,325Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,535Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,592 / yr
California state income tax$926 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,680 / yr

Office Clerks, General 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 Office Clerks, General in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$17.26/hr$2,992$35,900$30,607
25th Percentile$19.28/hr$3,342$40,100$33,814
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$23.13/hr$4,008$48,100$39,903
75th Percentile$28.70/hr$4,975$59,700$48,527
90th Percentile$34.95/hr$6,058$72,700$57,384

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

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$48,100 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 Ratio43.3%of area median income

Compare office clerks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Office Clerks, General Pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

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

The official BLS median annual wage for office clerks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $48,100, which equates to approximately $4,008 per month or $23.13 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

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

The median hourly wage for office clerks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $23.13 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.26/hour and one in ten earned more than $34.95/hour.

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

BLS wage estimates for office clerks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA span from $35,900 at the 10th percentile to $40,100 at the 25th, $59,700 at the 75th, and $72,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $48,100, an estimated $39,903 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,535 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,197 (an effective rate of 17%).

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

On the median annual salary of $48,100, gross monthly income is $4,008. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,325 per month (or $1,535 every two weeks).

Is $48,100 a good salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

At $48,100, the median salary for office clerks is 43.3% 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.