Human Resources Specialists Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

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

Median annual salary $81,280 +11.5% vs national
Median hourly $39.08
10th percentile $55,760
90th percentile $125,000
Employed locally 420
National median $72,910

Compare Human Resources Specialists salary & buying power

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Human Resources Specialists
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $55,760
    25th
    $67,860
    50th (median)
    $81,280
    75th
    $103,860
    90th
    $125,000

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Human Resources Specialists salary vs area income 74% Median Human Resources Specialists salary is 26% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Human Resources Specialists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $114,080
    District of Columbia $102,500
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,600
    Lexington Park, MD $97,490
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $97,340
    Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $89,860

    Nearby metros — Human Resources Specialists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $114,080
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,600
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $83,930
    California $81,810
    Vallejo, CA $80,830
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $79,910

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Accountants and Auditors$83,070
    Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,770
    Management Analysts$101,930
    Project Management Specialists$102,160
    Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$76,440
    Training and Development Specialists$66,990

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Human Resources Specialists make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Human Resources Specialists in Santa Cruz, CA is $39.08, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $64.91 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Human Resources Specialists salaries?

    The median Human Resources Specialists salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 11.5% above the national median of $72,910. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Human Resources Specialists in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Human Resources Specialists (10th percentile) earn around $55,760 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $67,860.