Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
In Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares earn $61,610 at the median, or about $29.62 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $56,060 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 104.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $80K | +42% | 3,810 |
| District of Columbia | $76K | +36% | 380 |
| Massachusetts | $69K | +22% | 2,230 |
| New Mexico | $68K | +20% | 370 |
| New Jersey | $66K | +18% | 2,820 |
| California | $65K | +16% | 8,290 |
| Washington | $64K | +14% | 1,580 |
| Delaware | $64K | +14% | 390 |
| Hawaii | $63K | +12% | 270 |
| Nebraska | $62K | +9% | 500 |
| Connecticut | $60K | +7% | 1,100 |
| Nevada | $60K | +7% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $60K | +6% | 1,120 |
| Virginia | $59K | +6% | 1,550 |
| Utah | $59K | +6% | 550 |
| Vermont | $58K | +4% | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +3% | 1,320 |
| South Dakota | $55K | -2% | 120 |
| Michigan | $55K | -2% | 1,580 |
| Oregon | $55K | -3% | 1,380 |
| Montana | $52K | -7% | 180 |
| Kansas | $52K | -8% | 480 |
| Maine | $51K | -10% | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | -10% | 3,370 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -11% | 2,290 |
| Indiana | $50K | -11% | 830 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -11% | 380 |
| New Hampshire | $50K | -11% | 460 |
| Florida | $50K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $49K | -13% | 1,380 |
| Illinois | $49K | -14% | 3,630 |
| Texas | $49K | -14% | 6,600 |
| Wyoming | $47K | -16% | 140 |
| Ohio | $47K | -16% | 2,750 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -17% | 540 |
| Iowa | $47K | -17% | 1,030 |
| North Dakota | $46K | -18% | 290 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -19% | 550 |
| Georgia | $45K | -21% | 980 |
| West Virginia | $44K | -21% | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | -22% | 710 |
| Arkansas | $42K | -25% | 1,130 |
| Alabama | $41K | -27% | 780 |
| Mississippi | $41K | -28% | 610 |
| Louisiana | $40K | -29% | 520 |
| Missouri | $39K | -30% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $39K | -31% | 860 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $61,610 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,040, and experienced education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares can clear $136,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,126/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 102.1% 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary is worth about $56,060 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares 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.