Santa Cruz Employment

Employment and Industries in the Santa Cruz, California Area

The Santa Cruz economy is powered by tourism, agriculture, high technology and education. Santa Cruz is a prominent organic agriculture area and includes the headquarters of California Certified Organic Farmers. Tourism is a significant factor for the economy due to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the popular beaches, the nearby redwood forests and Monterey Bay.

Management, professional and related occupations provide about 42% of the jobs in Santa Cruz. About 22% of the jobs are in sales and office occupations. Approximately 20% of the workforce is employed by the government.

Some of the most popular occupations in the Santa Cruz metro area where the majority of the workers are college graduates are registered nurses, teachers, sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing; financial managers and network systems and data communications analysts. Other jobs in this category include child, family and school social workers; sales managers, social and human service assistants, computer applications software engineers, computer programmers and computer systems software engineers.

Noteworthy data about Santa Cruz: The cost of living index in 2008 was 195.7 which is very high when compared to the national average of 100. Regarding the population more than 25 years of age, about 44% have earned a bachelor's degree or higher. The average earnings in Santa Cruz in 2009 was $39,000.

The primary employers in Santa Cruz are:

  • Dominican Hospital - Hospitals
  • Plantronics - Telephone equipment manufacturer
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - Amusement & Theme Parks
  • Santa Cruz County Council - Government offices
  • Santa Cruz County Sheriff Dept - Sheriff
  • Santa Cruz Governmental Center - Government Offices
  • Santa Cruz Health Center - Clinics
  • Santa Cruz Medical Foundation - Physicians & surgeons
  • Sierra Club - Santa Cruz County - Environmental organizations
  • University of California - Santa Cruz - Education
  • US Health & Human Services Dept - Government
  • Santa Cruz Biotechnology - Biotechnology
  • Giro Bicycle Helmets
  • O'Neill Wetsuits
  • O'Neill Surf Shops
  • The Santa Cruz Guitar Company
  • Santa Cruz Skateboards
  • Kestrel Bicycles
  • Santa Cruz Mountain Bikes
  • Ventui International - Optical instruments & lenses manufacturer
  • Cruzio
  • Fullpower Technologies

The primary sectors for jobs in Santa Cruz are:

  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Professional, scientific and technical services
  • Accommodation and food services
  • Construction
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation

Business organizations which provide assistance to Santa Cruz companies include:

The Santa Cruz Sentinel offers up-to-date information regarding the business activities in Santa Cruz.

Jobs in Santa Cruz

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations99000$57,040$27.43100
2Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations12110$30,930$14.878.7
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations11800$46,120$22.1713.75
4Educational Instruction and Library Occupations10100$68,200$32.796
5Sales and Related Occupations9450$41,420$19.919.5
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations6390$38,100$18.326.7
7Healthcare Support Occupations6140$34,700$16.682.85
8Management Occupations5660$122,370$58.836.35
9Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations4610$120,720$58.045.85
10Business and Financial Operations Occupations4310$76,580$36.825.35
11Production Occupations4280$41,330$19.875.6
12Home Health and Personal Care Aides3880$29,520$14.190
13Construction and Extraction Occupations3630$60,130$28.914.6
14Fast Food and Counter Workers3430$27,960$13.442.45
15Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3190$36,020$17.323.6
16Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations3030$53,440$25.693.75
17Retail Salespersons3020$34,680$16.672.7
18Personal Care and Service Occupations2730$33,470$16.094.65
19Cashiers2640$29,950$14.42.2
20Community and Social Service Occupations2360$58,280$28.021.75
21Waiters and Waitresses2210$30,820$14.821.65
22Computer and Mathematical Occupations2110$92,890$44.663
23Protective Service Occupations1870$60,900$29.282.2
24Stockers and Order Fillers1690$31,130$14.971.25
25General and Operations Managers1550$124,130$59.681.5
26Cooks, Restaurant1540$32,950$15.840.9
27Office Clerks, General1480$41,590$201.9
28Registered Nurses1410$134,000$64.421.95
29Substitute Teachers, Short-Term1320$40,750$19.590.4
30Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1300$50,940$24.491.05
31Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1270$85,320$41.020.8
32Architecture and Engineering Occupations1260$99,940$48.051.7
33Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1240$44,860$21.571.4
34Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1140$65,990$31.731.8
35Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1130$37,920$18.231.8
36Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1110$33,640$16.171.5
37Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations1010$28,770$13.830.65
38Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers980$36,550$17.570.75
39Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other920$70,910$34.090.7
40Maintenance and Repair Workers, General910$44,360$21.330.9
41Customer Service Representatives890$44,810$21.541.75
42First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers890$61,620$29.630.95
43Medical Assistants890$44,380$21.340.45
44Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse870$26,380$12.690.3
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers870$47,580$22.880.95
46Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products870$67,690$32.540.85
47Cooks, Fast Food820$26,770$12.870.3
48Carpenters680$67,280$32.350.6
49Social and Human Service Assistants680$49,950$24.010.3
50Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners670$31,450$15.120.9
51First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers660$40,830$19.630.6
52Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers660$108,170$52.010.65
53Light Truck Drivers650$43,270$20.80.6
54Bartenders640$35,170$16.910.4
55Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers640$51,310$24.671.2
56Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers600$29,440$14.150.3
57Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants600$43,670$20.990.4
58Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders600$32,150$15.460.2
59Receptionists and Information Clerks570$38,200$18.360.7
60Accountants and Auditors550$81,260$39.070.9
61Construction Laborers550$49,280$23.690.9
62Food Preparation Workers550$32,170$15.470.5
63Counter and Rental Clerks540$37,400$17.980.3
64Dishwashers530$26,820$12.90.3
65Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment520$30,380$14.610.3
66Legal Occupations520$109,360$52.580.8
67Self-Enrichment Teachers520$51,400$24.710.2
68Firefighters470$61,340$29.490.2
69Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel450$63,730$30.640.7
70Security Guards450$31,660$15.220.7
71Human Resources Specialists440$80,340$38.630.4
72Dental Assistants430$50,120$24.10.2
73Electricians420$62,250$29.930.45
74Medical and Health Services Managers420$163,280$78.50.3
75Packers and Packagers, Hand420$29,250$14.060.4
76Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists410$62,970$30.270.45
77Recreation Workers410$31,870$15.320.3
78Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics390$51,660$24.840.5
79Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks380$38,740$18.630.4
80Financial Managers370$129,910$62.460.4
81Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors370$49,580$23.840.2
82Amusement and Recreation Attendants360$27,220$13.090.2
83Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants360$61,270$29.460.35
84Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education360$39,800$19.130.3
85Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors350$42,840$20.590.2
86Dental Hygienists340$110,020$52.890.1
87Billing and Posting Clerks330$48,210$23.180.3
88Childcare Workers330$28,670$13.780.7
89Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers330$107,980$51.920.4
90First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers310$63,370$30.460.4
91Management Analysts310$98,310$47.260.55
92Sales Managers300$106,660$51.280.3
93Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop290$27,380$13.160.3
94Computer Occupations, All Other280$78,880$37.920.3
95Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks280$31,230$15.020.15
96Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity280$39,200$18.850.3
97Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other280$133,180$64.030.7
98Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents280$57,780$27.780.3
99Food Service Managers270$51,530$24.780.2
100Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists270$32,960$15.850.4
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Santa Cruz Colleges
Santa Cruz colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Santa Cruz Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$57,04099,000
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$30,93012,110
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$46,12011,800
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$68,20010,100
Sales and Related Occupations$41,4209,450
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$38,1006,390
Healthcare Support Occupations$34,7006,140
Management Occupations$122,3705,660
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$120,7204,610
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$76,5804,310
Production Occupations$41,3304,280
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$29,5203,880
Construction and Extraction Occupations$60,1303,630
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,9603,430
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$36,0203,190
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$53,4403,030
Retail Salespersons$34,6803,020
Personal Care and Service Occupations$33,4702,730
Cashiers$29,9502,640
Community and Social Service Occupations$58,2802,360
Waiters and Waitresses$30,8202,210
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$92,8902,110
Protective Service Occupations$60,9001,870
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,1301,690
General and Operations Managers$124,1301,550
Cooks, Restaurant$32,9501,540
Office Clerks, General$41,5901,480
Registered Nurses$134,0001,410
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$40,7501,320
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50,9401,300
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$85,3201,270
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$99,9401,260
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$44,8601,240
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$65,9901,140
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$37,9201,130
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,6401,110
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$28,7701,010
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$36,550980
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$70,910920
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,360910
Customer Service Representatives$44,810890
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,620890
Medical Assistants$44,380890
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$26,380870
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,580870
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,690870
Cooks, Fast Food$26,770820
Carpenters$67,280680
Social and Human Service Assistants$49,950680
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,450670

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Santa Cruz, California Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$57,04099,000
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$30,93012,110
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$46,12011,800
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$68,20010,100
Sales and Related Occupations$41,4209,450
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$38,1006,390
Healthcare Support Occupations$34,7006,140
Management Occupations$122,3705,660
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$120,7204,610
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$76,5804,310
Production Occupations$41,3304,280
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$29,5203,880
Construction and Extraction Occupations$60,1303,630
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,9603,430
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$36,0203,190
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$53,4403,030
Retail Salespersons$34,6803,020
Personal Care and Service Occupations$33,4702,730
Cashiers$29,9502,640
Community and Social Service Occupations$58,2802,360
Waiters and Waitresses$30,8202,210
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$92,8902,110
Protective Service Occupations$60,9001,870
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,1301,690
General and Operations Managers$124,1301,550
Cooks, Restaurant$32,9501,540
Office Clerks, General$41,5901,480
Registered Nurses$134,0001,410
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$40,7501,320
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50,9401,300
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$85,3201,270
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$99,9401,260
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$44,8601,240
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$65,9901,140
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$37,9201,130
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,6401,110
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations$28,7701,010
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$36,550980
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$70,910920
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,360910
Customer Service Representatives$44,810890
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,620890
Medical Assistants$44,380890
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$26,380870
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,580870
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,690870
Cooks, Fast Food$26,770820
Carpenters$67,280680
Social and Human Service Assistants$49,950680
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,450670

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