Computer Systems Analysts Salary
Computer Systems Analysts in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA make a median of $124,450 a year, or about $59.83 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $113,239 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month, about 57.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $124K 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 computer systems analysts
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What this looks like in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
Santa Cruz-Watsonville sits well above the national pay line for computer systems analysts, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $106K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $4,214/month, which is 57.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 109.9), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer systems analysts in metros near Santa Cruz-Watsonville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $122K | $107K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $134K | $116K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $157K | $142K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $119K | $106K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level computer systems analysts (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Systems Analysts pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Systems Analysts salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $135K | +27% | 1,850 |
| Washington | $129K | +22% | 24,120 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +21% | 22,160 |
| Colorado | $128K | +21% | 6,230 |
| California | $128K | +21% | 59,060 |
| New Jersey | $123K | +16% | 16,520 |
| Oregon | $122K | +15% | 5,640 |
| Virginia | $121K | +14% | 23,190 |
| District of Columbia | $117K | +10% | 2,480 |
| Maryland | $114K | +7% | 15,340 |
| Delaware | $111K | +4% | 2,140 |
| Wyoming | $110K | +4% | 310 |
| New York | $110K | +4% | 24,100 |
| Connecticut | $110K | +4% | 4,800 |
| New Hampshire | $108K | +2% | 2,090 |
| Texas | $107K | +1% | 47,990 |
| North Carolina | $107K | +1% | 20,910 |
| Minnesota | $106K | +0% | 11,330 |
| Georgia | $106K | +0% | 11,640 |
| North Dakota | $105K | -0% | 280 |
| Nevada | $104K | -2% | 2,540 |
| Arizona | $104K | -2% | 11,330 |
| Michigan | $103K | -2% | 14,070 |
| Ohio | $102K | -3% | 19,190 |
| Florida | $102K | -4% | 35,270 |
| Alabama | $102K | -4% | 6,560 |
| Illinois | $102K | -4% | 20,610 |
| Kansas | $101K | -5% | 3,740 |
| Wisconsin | $100K | -5% | 8,340 |
| South Dakota | $100K | -6% | 1,110 |
| Vermont | $100K | -6% | 590 |
| Indiana | $99K | -7% | 9,660 |
| Utah | $99K | -7% | 2,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $99K | -7% | 19,450 |
| South Carolina | $98K | -7% | 7,700 |
| New Mexico | $98K | -7% | 2,290 |
| Oklahoma | $96K | -9% | 3,710 |
| Iowa | $96K | -9% | 4,760 |
| Maine | $96K | -9% | 2,480 |
| Louisiana | $96K | -10% | 2,980 |
| Tennessee | $96K | -10% | 10,220 |
| Kentucky | $95K | -10% | 5,930 |
| Missouri | $92K | -13% | 7,730 |
| Nebraska | $92K | -13% | 2,440 |
| Montana | $91K | -14% | 850 |
| Hawaii | $89K | -16% | 1,670 |
| Alaska | $89K | -16% | 420 |
| Mississippi | $86K | -18% | 1,990 |
| Arkansas | $82K | -23% | 4,100 |
| Idaho | $75K | -29% | 1,650 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer systems analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Cruz-Watsonville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer systems analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 57.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $4,214/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer systems analysts in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer systems analysts typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,918/month. At HUD’s $4,214/month FMR, rent would take 86% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer systems analyst a high-paying job in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $124K here vs. $106K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Santa Cruz-Watsonville compare to the national average for computer systems analysts?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $106K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 109.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer systems analysts make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $124,450 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,960, and experienced computer systems analysts can clear $164,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,342/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 57.4% 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 computer systems analysts 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 computer systems analysts salary is worth about $113,239 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer systems analysts 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.