Clergy Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Clergies in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA make a median of $58,700 a year, or about $28.22 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $53,412 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 110% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Cruz-Watsonville’s Regional Price Parity (109.9). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About clergies
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level clergies (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Clergy pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $78K | +28% | 6,390 |
| Washington | $78K | +27% | 800 |
| Nevada | $70K | +15% | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $68K | +12% | 830 |
| Vermont | $67K | +10% | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $67K | +10% | 100 |
| Georgia | $66K | +8% | 1,280 |
| Minnesota | $65K | +7% | 960 |
| Connecticut | $65K | +7% | 830 |
| District of Columbia | $65K | +7% | 300 |
| Hawaii | $64K | +5% | 590 |
| Wyoming | $64K | +5% | 30 |
| New Jersey | $64K | +4% | 1,230 |
| Oregon | $63K | +4% | 4,340 |
| Maine | $63K | +4% | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | +3% | 710 |
| Arizona | $62K | +3% | 1,380 |
| Rhode Island | $62K | +2% | 210 |
| Idaho | $61K | +1% | 140 |
| Delaware | $61K | +1% | 90 |
| Illinois | $60K | -1% | 2,620 |
| Missouri | $60K | -1% | 760 |
| Texas | $60K | -2% | 2,310 |
| North Carolina | $60K | -2% | 1,450 |
| Florida | $59K | -2% | 3,370 |
| Iowa | $59K | -3% | 360 |
| Ohio | $59K | -3% | 2,060 |
| South Carolina | $59K | -3% | 530 |
| New York | $59K | -3% | 9,210 |
| Montana | $59K | -3% | 790 |
| Kentucky | $59K | -4% | 520 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -4% | 140 |
| Maryland | $58K | -5% | 840 |
| Kansas | $58K | -5% | 330 |
| Indiana | $58K | -5% | 1,070 |
| New Mexico | $57K | -5% | 230 |
| Louisiana | $57K | -6% | 340 |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | -7% | 2,660 |
| Oklahoma | $56K | -7% | 500 |
| Virginia | $56K | -8% | 1,400 |
| South Dakota | $55K | -9% | 130 |
| Alaska | $55K | -10% | 140 |
| Michigan | $54K | -11% | 2,220 |
| Nebraska | $54K | -12% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $52K | -15% | 780 |
| Arkansas | $51K | -16% | 390 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -17% | 270 |
| Alabama | $50K | -18% | 720 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -40% | 310 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track clergy salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Cruz-Watsonville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do clergies make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $58,700 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,600, and experienced clergies can clear $118,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,949/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 106.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a clergy salary go in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median clergy salary is worth about $53,412 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do clergies get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.