Veterinarians Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
The median pay for a veterinarians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $161,370/year ($77.58/hour), per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $80K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $146,833 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 44.2% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $161K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
About veterinarians
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $161K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Veterinarians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $159K | +27% | 8,510 |
| Washington | $155K | +24% | 1,940 |
| District of Columbia | $153K | +22% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $149K | +18% | 1,750 |
| West Virginia | $134K | +7% | 390 |
| Vermont | $134K | +7% | 340 |
| Arizona | $133K | +6% | 1,430 |
| Massachusetts | $132K | +5% | 1,820 |
| New York | $131K | +5% | 3,200 |
| Florida | $131K | +5% | 5,480 |
| Connecticut | $131K | +4% | 890 |
| Pennsylvania | $130K | +3% | 3,220 |
| New Hampshire | $129K | +3% | 630 |
| Illinois | $128K | +2% | 2,950 |
| Rhode Island | $127K | +1% | 310 |
Track veterinarians 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 veterinarians make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $161,370 a year - that works out to about $77.58 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $161K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,159/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 46% 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 veterinarians 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 veterinarians salary is worth about $146,833 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do veterinarians 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.