Paramedic salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Paramedics in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $71,390 a year ($34.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,630 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $60,600. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $74,590. There are 0.40 paramedics per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $75,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paramedics in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,280 | $25.13 |
| 25th percentile | $66,140 | $31.80 |
| Median | $71,390 | $34.32 |
| 75th percentile | $83,550 | $40.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,630 | $48.38 |
| Average (mean) | $75,870 | $36.48 |
Half of paramedics 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 | $5,949.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,974.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,745.77 |
| Weekly | $1,372.88 |
| Hourly | $34.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Paramedic salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | $88,740 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84,480 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,090 | 780 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,430 | 390 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,710 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,590 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,900 | 1,200 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,080 | 70 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $73,930 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $72,520 | 580 |
| Modesto, CA | $72,170 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,630 | 430 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $69,050 | 120 |
| Merced, CA | $64,100 | 30 |
| Visalia, CA | $63,840 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for paramedics
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $104,310 |
| New Jersey | $86,630 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 |
| District of Columbia | $78,550 |
| Connecticut | $77,480 |
| Minnesota | $76,300 |
| Oregon | $74,840 |
| California | $74,590 |
| New York | $73,200 |
| Alaska | $71,860 |
See Paramedic pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $50,100 | $24.09 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,510 | $29.09 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $129,920 | $62.46 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $83,100 | $39.95 |
| Surgical Technologist | $100,130 | $48.14 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $51,970 | $24.98 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $55,950 | $26.90 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $142,150 | $68.34 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $43,710 | $21.01 |
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
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 29-2043. 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 paramedic make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for paramedics in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $71,390 a year, or $34.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paramedics make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of paramedics in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $100,630 a year. The top 25% earn $83,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for paramedics in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,280 a year, and a quarter of paramedics earn $66,140 or less.
How many paramedics work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 40 paramedics are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.