H-1B salaries in Santa Cruz, CA
Based on 333 certified H-1B filings in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Base salary only.
Median salary$148,400
Middle 50%$114.7k–$173k
vs. national median+21%comparison median $122,699
Filings333FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k$225k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $88,200 |
| 25th | $114,650 |
| 50th (median) | $148,400 |
| 75th | $173,000 |
| 90th | $194,979 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $104,850 | $90,000 | $140,000 | 148 |
| FY2021 | $108,181 | $88,587 | $140,500 | 166 |
| FY2022 | $120,207 | $92,846 | $157,483 | 180 |
| FY2023 | $126,277 | $100,000 | $161,750 | 145 |
| FY2024 | $135,000 | $102,099 | $170,000 | 163 |
| FY2025 | $137,900 | $106,200 | $165,000 | 181 |
| FY2026 | $152,328 | $121,665 | $184,755 | 152 |
Cost of living
Santa Cruz's median H-1B salary of $148,400 is worth about $135,000 at national average prices.
Fair market rent, 1-bedroom$3,390Per month. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027 (Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA).
Fair market rent, 2-bedroom$4,254Per month. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027 (Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA).
Price level (U.S. = 100)109.9Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Price-adjusted median$135,000Median salary ÷ (price level ÷ 100).
State income tax on wagesCA: yesSource: Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2025.
Most filed jobs
| Job | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $154,453 | 60 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $156,000 | 35 |
| Industrial Engineer | $160,000 | 19 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $174,750 | 18 |
| Electrical Engineer | $149,500 | 16 |
| QA Engineer | $158,175 | 14 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $160,000 | 13 |
| Systems Engineer / Architect | $147,500 | 12 |