Metro profile · CBSA 42100
Healthcare wages in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
29 occupations with reported wage data, scored on the WageBench 0-100 scale that blends pay, cost of living, state tax, and license access.
CRISIS PAY WATCH · FEMA
5 active disasters in California· Chemical · Fire
State-level overlay — county-to-metro rollup pending.
- 2-7 FIRE
- BAIN FIRE
- CANYON FIRE
- + 2 more declarations
Active disaster declarations often drive temporary surges in travel-nurse, RT, and crisis-response pay rates. Recruiters may offer sign-on bonuses or premium hourly rates for crisis assignments. WageBench base wages do not include these premiums.
See full active disaster overlay →Latest declared 2026-05-25
COL Index (RPP)
—
100 = national avg
HUD FMR (2BR)
—
Fair-market rent
GSA Per Diem
—
Lodging stipend cap
Avg Score
44
Across 29 roles
Every healthcare occupation in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
Sortable by median wage, take-home after state tax, or WageBench Score. Click any role for state + metro comparison.
29 occupations
| Occupation | Category | Annual Median | Take-Home | WageBench Score ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | nursing | $170,960 | $160,702 | 53 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | physician | $430,970 | $405,112 | 52 |
| Respiratory Therapists | allied | $134,880 | $126,787 | 51 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | allied | $129,920 | $122,125 | 51 |
| Surgical Technologists | allied | $100,130 | $94,122 | 50 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | allied | $142,150 | $133,621 | 48 |
| Phlebotomists | support | $59,800 | $56,212 | 45 |
| Occupational Therapists | allied | $130,420 | $122,595 | 45 |
| Veterinarians | allied | $164,820 | $154,931 | 45 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | allied | $83,100 | $78,114 | 45 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | allied | $62,810 | $59,041 | 45 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | support | $87,330 | $82,090 | 45 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | nursing | $81,000 | $76,140 | 44 |
| Nurse Practitioners | nursing | $167,190 | $157,159 | 44 |
| Physician Assistants | physician | $159,030 | $149,488 | 43 |
| Paramedics | allied | $51,970 | $48,852 | 43 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | allied | $118,670 | $111,550 | 43 |
| Dental Assistants | support | $58,580 | $55,065 | 43 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | physician | $291,880 | $274,367 | 43 |
| Physical Therapists | allied | $124,790 | $117,303 | 43 |
| Nursing Assistants | support | $47,940 | $45,064 | 42 |
| Other Physicians, All Other | physician | $305,610 | $287,273 | 42 |
| Pharmacists | allied | $161,940 | $152,224 | 42 |
| Physical Therapist Aides | support | $39,210 | $36,857 | 41 |
| Medical Assistants | support | $50,090 | $47,085 | 41 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | allied | $50,100 | $47,094 | 41 |
| Dentists, General | physician | $175,950 | $165,393 | 40 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | support | $34,320 | $32,261 | 39 |
| Psychiatric Technicians | allied | $43,710 | $41,087 | 39 |
Pro tier
Travel ROI: Registered Nurses in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
Take-home, GSA stipend math vs HUD FMR, license context, and a 5-state comparison — formatted for assignment evaluation.