Data Analyst Salary in Santa Cruz, CA: $87,582 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time data analyst in Santa Cruz, CA earns a median $87,582/year (≈ $42.11/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2051). Once you factor in Santa Cruz's price level (10% above national, BEA RPP 109.9), that paycheck buys what $79,695 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 20.2% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the average compensation for data analysts in Santa Cruz, CA is projected to be $87,582, surpassing the national median of $80,394 by approximately 8.94%. This robust salary reflects a range from $50,197 at the lower end (P10) to an impressive $141,123 for those at the higher end of the scale (P90). With compensation structured across various levels and roles—such as L4 through L6—data analysts can anticipate significant upward mobility in total compensation as they progress. Given these projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, Santa Cruz's job market offers competitive pay, particularly for skilled professionals, highlighting the city's emerging prominence in data analytics.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,197 | $24.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61,524 | $29.58 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $87,582 | $42.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $108,225 | $52.03 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $141,123 | $67.85 |
Median Salary Position
8.94% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Santa Cruz
In Santa Cruz, CA, the data analyst salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $90,926 (2026 est.). At $87,582, the local median is 8.94% above the national median of $80,394.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Santa Cruz: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Santa Cruz Data Analyst Pay Compares
Santa Cruz median: $87,582/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Santa Cruz Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $72,864 | +20.20% more |
| National Average | $80,394 | +8.94% more |
Data Analysts in Santa Cruz, CA earn a median of $87,582 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.94% higher than the national median of $80,394 and 20.20% above the California state average of $72,864.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Santa Cruz has a cost of living 9.90% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Santa Cruz, CA has a cost-of-living index of 109.896 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $87,582 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $79,695 — a 9.01% reduction.
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2021 BLS Actual
$111,940
2025 BLS Actual
$83,827
2026 Current Est.
$87,582
2021–2027 Growth
+-18.3%
Salary Trajectory for Data Analysts in Santa Cruz (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.48% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $111,940 | Actual |
| 2022 | $104,660 | Actual |
| 2023 | $129,010 | Actual |
| 2024 | $116,480 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,827 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $87,582 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,506 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Santa Cruz metropolitan area, the median data analyst salary grew -25.1% from $111,940 (2021) to $83,827 (2025). At a 4.48% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,506 by 2027 — a total increase of $-20,434 (-18.25%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Santa Cruz metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.48% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $50,197 – $61,524 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $61,524 – $87,582 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $87,582 – $108,225 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $108,225 – $141,123 |
DA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual data analyst compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Data Analyst Job Market in Santa Cruz
Currently, Santa Cruz employs about 80 data analysts, indicating a steady demand for talent in this field despite the higher cost of living, as evidenced by a cost-of-living index of 109.896. This means that while salaries may appear appealing, actual purchasing power is effectively reduced, impacting take-home earnings. Companies such as the FAANG giants and promising AI startups tend to offer the most lucrative compensation packages, often supplemented by substantial RSUs and signing bonuses. The variation in salaries can largely be attributed to company tier, position level, and job specialization, with roles in ML engineering typically yielding higher compensation than those in product data science or analytics. To maximize pay in Santa Cruz, candidates should focus on developing specialization in machine learning frameworks, actively pursue opportunities with top-tier employers, and consider the equity offered through RSUs as a vital component of their overall compensation strategy.
More salary data for Santa Cruz, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst
Career Analyst
Aisha has 10 years of experience in data analysis. She specializes in business intelligence and works at a tech consulting firm.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $83,827 for data analystsin the Santa Cruz metropolitan area. A 4.48% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.48%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for data analysts (SOC 15-2051).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst, a licensed data analyst with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov