Human Resources Specialist salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Human Resources Specialists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $84,690 a year ($40.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,020 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $75,940. Pay here is 1% higher than the California statewide median of $83,500. There are 4.6 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $93,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,060 | $28.39 |
| 25th percentile | $71,910 | $34.57 |
| Median | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| 75th percentile | $106,710 | $51.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,020 | $64.91 |
| Average (mean) | $93,190 | $44.80 |
Half of human resources specialists 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 | $7,057.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,528.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,257.31 |
| Weekly | $1,628.65 |
| Hourly | $40.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $84,690 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Human Resources Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $112,140 | 7,970 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,140 | 16,420 |
| Napa, CA | $84,400 | 310 |
| Vallejo, CA | $83,160 | 650 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $81,540 | 920 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $81,300 | 9,110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $80,950 | 5,360 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,560 | 1,710 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $80,340 | 870 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,220 | 36,850 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,100 | 630 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $78,020 | 610 |
| Modesto, CA | $77,070 | 730 |
| Merced, CA | $76,820 | 280 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,700 | 1,240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,570 | 7,210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $76,560 | 1,160 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $76,250 | 110 |
| Yuba City, CA | $74,680 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $74,170 | 1,770 |
| Visalia, CA | $74,050 | 580 |
| Chico, CA | $73,910 | 310 |
| El Centro, CA | $71,970 | 220 |
| Redding, CA | $70,830 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for human resources specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 |
| Massachusetts | $85,630 |
| Washington | $84,550 |
| New York | $84,380 |
| Maryland | $83,910 |
| California | $83,500 |
| Connecticut | $82,890 |
| Virginia | $82,090 |
| Colorado | $80,840 |
| New Jersey | $80,690 |
See Human Resources Specialist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $84,010 | $40.39 |
| Management Analyst | $105,480 | $50.71 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,880 | $37.92 |
| Project Management Specialist | $106,780 | $51.34 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,250 | $37.14 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $79,480 | $38.21 |
| Compliance Officer | $86,510 | $41.59 |
| Cost Estimator | $80,170 | $38.54 |
| Fundraiser | $82,310 | $39.57 |
| Logistician | $104,320 | $50.15 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $67,550 | $32.48 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $95,730 | $46.02 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $128,320 | $61.69 |
More: Business and Financial Operations 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 13-1071. 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 human resources specialist make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for human resources specialists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $84,690 a year, or $40.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $135,020 a year. The top 25% earn $106,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,060 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $71,910 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 450 human resources specialists are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.