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

Teaching Assistant Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metropolitan area, teaching assistants earned a median annual wage of $46,100 ($22.16/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,000/year and the 90th was $59,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $38,395 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 109.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$46,100$22.16 per hour · $3,842 monthly
10th Percentile$37,000$17.79/hr base
25th Percentile$39,300$18.89/hr base
75th Percentile$49,200$23.65/hr base
90th Percentile$59,100$28.41/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

$46,100
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$46,100
Net 83%
Fed 7%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$38,395After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,200Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,477Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,352 / yr
California state income tax$827 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,527 / yr

Teaching Assistants 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 Teaching Assistants in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$17.79/hr$3,083$37,000$31,447
25th Percentile$18.89/hr$3,275$39,300$33,203
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$22.16/hr$3,842$46,100$38,395
75th Percentile$23.65/hr$4,100$49,200$40,721
90th Percentile$28.41/hr$4,925$59,100$48,081

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

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$46,100 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 Ratio41.5%of area median income

Compare teaching assistants salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching Assistants Pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

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

The official BLS median annual wage for teaching assistants in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $46,100, which equates to approximately $3,842 per month or $22.16 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

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

The median hourly wage for teaching assistants in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $22.16 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.79/hour and one in ten earned more than $28.41/hour.

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

BLS wage estimates for teaching assistants in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA span from $37,000 at the 10th percentile to $39,300 at the 25th, $49,200 at the 75th, and $59,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $46,100, an estimated $38,395 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,477 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,705 (an effective rate of 16.7%).

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

On the median annual salary of $46,100, gross monthly income is $3,842. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,200 per month (or $1,477 every two weeks).

Is $46,100 a good salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

At $46,100, the median salary for teaching assistants is 41.5% 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.