Receptionists and Information Clerks Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Receptionists and Information Clerks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA make a median of $40,650 a year, or about $19.54 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $36,988 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 150.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $41K 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 receptionists and information clerks
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level receptionists and information clerks (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Receptionists and Information Clerks pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $44K | +19% | 1,700 |
| District of Columbia | $44K | +18% | 2,390 |
| Washington | $44K | +18% | 25,190 |
| California | $43K | +16% | 80,400 |
| Massachusetts | $43K | +15% | 22,140 |
| New York | $42K | +12% | 76,590 |
| Rhode Island | $40K | +8% | 5,160 |
| Maine | $40K | +8% | 4,040 |
| Oregon | $40K | +7% | 14,180 |
| Wisconsin | $40K | +7% | 26,880 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +6% | 5,050 |
| Connecticut | $39K | +5% | 14,510 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +5% | 48,710 |
| Hawaii | $39K | +5% | 3,250 |
| Vermont | $38K | +3% | 1,320 |
| Arizona | $38K | +2% | 25,160 |
| Maryland | $38K | +2% | 16,880 |
| North Dakota | $37K | +1% | 2,060 |
| Illinois | $37K | -0% | 39,800 |
| Minnesota | $37K | -1% | 12,480 |
| Nebraska | $37K | -1% | 6,320 |
| Michigan | $37K | -1% | 24,560 |
| South Dakota | $37K | -2% | 5,880 |
| Virginia | $36K | -3% | 24,920 |
| Wyoming | $36K | -3% | 1,450 |
| Georgia | $36K | -3% | 33,460 |
| Utah | $36K | -3% | 12,090 |
| Florida | $36K | -3% | 70,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $36K | -3% | 37,080 |
| Nevada | $36K | -4% | 10,660 |
| Delaware | $36K | -4% | 2,430 |
| Indiana | $36K | -4% | 16,470 |
| Iowa | $36K | -4% | 4,980 |
| Idaho | $36K | -4% | 6,690 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -5% | 25,050 |
| Montana | $35K | -5% | 1,490 |
| Kansas | $35K | -5% | 7,820 |
| Ohio | $35K | -5% | 30,880 |
| Missouri | $35K | -6% | 18,390 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -6% | 12,310 |
| Texas | $34K | -7% | 81,110 |
| New Mexico | $34K | -8% | 5,370 |
| Tennessee | $34K | -9% | 15,360 |
| Arkansas | $34K | -9% | 11,520 |
| Oklahoma | $34K | -10% | 9,090 |
| Kentucky | $31K | -16% | 11,910 |
| Alabama | $31K | -17% | 10,620 |
| West Virginia | $31K | -18% | 5,690 |
| Louisiana | $31K | -18% | 13,440 |
| Mississippi | $30K | -19% | 6,930 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track receptionists and information clerks salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do receptionists and information clerks make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $40,650 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,050, and experienced receptionists and information clerks can clear $58,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,825/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 149.2% 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 receptionists and information 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 receptionists and information clerks salary is worth about $36,988 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do receptionists and information 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.