Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $61,610 +9.5% vs national
Median hourly $29.62
10th percentile $47,040
90th percentile $136,710
Employed locally 70
National median $56,270

Compare Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary & buying power

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Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
in
Santa Cruz, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,040
    25th
    $57,920
    50th (median)
    $61,610
    75th
    $79,720
    90th
    $136,710

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary vs area income 56% Median Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary is 44% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $83,600
    New York $79,660
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $79,000
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $77,390
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $77,120
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $76,580

    Nearby metros — Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $77,120
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $76,580
    Salinas, CA $74,690
    Modesto, CA $73,660
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $71,240
    Napa, CA $70,440

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    General and Operations Managers $108,150
    Sales Managers $100,550
    Medical and Health Services Managers $136,030
    Financial Managers $160,250
    Managers, All Other $162,740
    Computer and Information Systems Managers $190,590

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in Santa Cruz, CA is $29.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.05 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salaries?

    The median Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 9.5% above the national median of $56,270. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (10th percentile) earn around $47,040 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $57,920.