Nurse Practitioner salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Nurse Practitioners in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $167,190 a year ($80.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $126,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $218,680 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $132,300. Pay here is 1% lower than the California statewide median of $168,520. There are 1.9 nurse practitioners per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $170,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nurse practitioners in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $126,540 | $60.84 |
| 25th percentile | $135,960 | $65.37 |
| Median | $167,190 | $80.38 |
| 75th percentile | $200,610 | $96.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $218,680 | $105.13 |
| Average (mean) | $170,020 | $81.74 |
Half of nurse practitioners 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 | $13,932.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,966.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,430.38 |
| Weekly | $3,215.19 |
| Hourly | $80.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nurse Practitioner salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $231,560 | 1,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $219,080 | 3,110 |
| Vallejo, CA | $182,370 | 180 |
| Napa, CA | $176,270 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $173,380 | 380 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $172,010 | 1,170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $169,920 | 1,710 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $168,540 | 70 |
| Chico, CA | $167,080 | 140 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $167,040 | 280 |
| Fresno, CA | $166,570 | 570 |
| Salinas, CA | $166,090 | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $165,580 | 430 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $165,580 | 200 |
| Yuba City, CA | $165,020 | 70 |
| El Centro, CA | $164,700 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,860 | 2,340 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $162,950 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,470 | 10,060 |
| Redding, CA | $160,480 | 120 |
| Visalia, CA | $159,430 | 250 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $159,150 | 280 |
| Merced, CA | $158,750 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $148,800 | 320 |
Highest-paying states for nurse practitioners
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $168,520 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 |
| Washington | $156,100 |
| Oregon | $155,680 |
| Alaska | $155,170 |
| New York | $153,510 |
| Massachusetts | $142,440 |
| Nevada | $140,670 |
| Connecticut | $138,470 |
| New Hampshire | $137,550 |
See Nurse Practitioner pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
| Physicians, All Other | $305,610 | $146.93 |
| Pharmacist | $161,940 | $77.86 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Veterinarian | $164,820 | $79.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,030 | $76.46 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,670 | $57.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $130,420 | $62.70 |
| Dentists, General | $175,950 | $84.59 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,880 | $64.85 |
| Acupuncturist | $91,350 | $43.92 |
| Optometrist | $122,150 | $58.73 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $103,760 | $49.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 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 29-1171. 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 nurse practitioner make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for nurse practitioners in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $167,190 a year, or $80.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $126,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $218,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nurse practitioners make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of nurse practitioners in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $218,680 a year. The top 25% earn $200,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for nurse practitioners in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $126,540 a year, and a quarter of nurse practitioners earn $135,960 or less.
How many nurse practitioners work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 190 nurse practitioners are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.