File Clerks Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
File Clerks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA make a median of $58,780 a year, or about $28.26 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $53,485 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 109.8% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $59K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
About file clerks
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level file clerks (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K.Top earners bring in $72K or more - a $36K spread from bottom to top.
File Clerks pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $58K | +39% | 180 |
| Oregon | $49K | +20% | 950 |
| Rhode Island | $48K | +17% | 90 |
| Washington | $47K | +14% | 590 |
| California | $47K | +14% | 9,740 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +13% | 790 |
| Illinois | $46K | +12% | 3,740 |
| Hawaii | $46K | +12% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $45K | +10% | 730 |
| Iowa | $45K | +9% | 430 |
| Wisconsin | $45K | +8% | 1,660 |
| Maryland | $45K | +8% | 850 |
| New Jersey | $45K | +8% | 2,690 |
| Virginia | $44K | +7% | 1,420 |
| Alaska | $44K | +7% | 220 |
Track file clerks 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 file clerks make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $58,780 a year - that works out to about $28.26 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,400, and experienced file clerks can clear $72,030. 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 $3,954/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 106.6% 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 file clerks 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 file clerks salary is worth about $53,485 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do file clerks 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.