Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA make a median of $37,500 a year, or about $18.03 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $34,122 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 162.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $38K 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 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $45K | +25% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $44K | +23% | 420 |
| Maine | $44K | +23% | 330 |
| Montana | $42K | +17% | 500 |
| District of Columbia | $42K | +17% | 40 |
| Illinois | $40K | +13% | 2,410 |
| Massachusetts | $40K | +13% | 1,270 |
| New York | $39K | +10% | 2,570 |
| Minnesota | $39K | +9% | 1,040 |
| Maryland | $38K | +7% | 1,630 |
| Indiana | $38K | +6% | 1,170 |
| New Jersey | $38K | +5% | 3,460 |
| Rhode Island | $37K | +4% | 230 |
| Washington | $37K | +4% | 7,280 |
| South Dakota | $37K | +4% | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | +4% | 3,660 |
| Missouri | $37K | +3% | 1,660 |
| Virginia | $37K | +3% | 1,190 |
| Michigan | $36K | +2% | 3,680 |
| Connecticut | $36K | +1% | 550 |
| Hawaii | $36K | +1% | 540 |
| Vermont | $36K | +0% | 170 |
| California | $36K | +0% | 175,340 |
| Alaska | $36K | +0% | 130 |
| Nevada | $36K | -0% | 580 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -1% | 870 |
| Oregon | $35K | -2% | 6,980 |
| Wisconsin | $35K | -2% | 1,330 |
| Arizona | $34K | -4% | 5,720 |
| Iowa | $34K | -5% | 820 |
| North Carolina | $34K | -6% | 2,980 |
| Kansas | $34K | -6% | 760 |
| Alabama | $33K | -7% | 620 |
| Oklahoma | $33K | -7% | 1,460 |
| Utah | $33K | -7% | 780 |
| Ohio | $33K | -7% | 2,290 |
| Idaho | $33K | -7% | 2,070 |
| Texas | $32K | -11% | 4,470 |
| Kentucky | $31K | -12% | 620 |
| North Dakota | $31K | -12% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $31K | -12% | 260 |
| Arkansas | $31K | -13% | 540 |
| Tennessee | $31K | -13% | 1,700 |
| Mississippi | $31K | -14% | 320 |
| Louisiana | $30K | -15% | 320 |
| Delaware | $30K | -16% | 260 |
| Florida | $30K | -17% | 9,640 |
| New Mexico | $30K | -17% | 1,670 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -18% | 120 |
| Georgia | $29K | -19% | 2,440 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $37,500 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,870, and experienced farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses can clear $47,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,624/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 160.6% 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 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse 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 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse salary is worth about $34,122 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses 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.