Computer Programmer salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Computer Programmers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $132,850 a year ($63.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,430 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $100,390. Pay here is 14% higher than the California statewide median of $116,760. There are 0.94 computer programmers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $128,360, close to the median.
Pay range for computer programmers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,920 | $41.31 |
| 25th percentile | $106,750 | $51.32 |
| Median | $132,850 | $63.87 |
| 75th percentile | $152,490 | $73.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,430 | $80.02 |
| Average (mean) | $128,360 | $61.71 |
Half of computer programmers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,070.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,535.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,109.62 |
| Weekly | $2,554.81 |
| Hourly | $63.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Programmer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $154,920 | 980 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $134,130 | 1,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,730 | 2,440 |
| Visalia, CA | $121,710 | 40 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $114,110 | 90 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $109,690 | 140 |
| Vallejo, CA | $108,830 | 30 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $108,060 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $107,090 | 3,400 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,250 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $102,600 | 580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,810 | 390 |
| Merced, CA | $100,410 | 30 |
| Fresno, CA | $99,370 | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $84,250 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for computer programmers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $133,820 |
| Massachusetts | $128,390 |
| Washington | $125,620 |
| Maryland | $125,570 |
| Virginia | $121,610 |
| Hawaii | $118,180 |
| California | $116,760 |
| Arkansas | $111,840 |
| Minnesota | $107,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,940 |
See Computer Programmer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $156,910 | $75.44 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $124,450 | $59.83 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $75,720 | $36.41 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $118,810 | $57.12 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $114,220 | $54.91 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Database Administrator | $102,510 | $49.28 |
| Web Developer | $81,350 | $39.11 |
| Data Scientist | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $104,680 | $50.33 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1251. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for computer programmers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $132,850 a year, or $63.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer programmers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of computer programmers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $166,430 a year. The top 25% earn $152,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer programmers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,920 a year, and a quarter of computer programmers earn $106,750 or less.
How many computer programmers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 90 computer programmers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.