Building Automation Specialist Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine
Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Building Automation Specialist Wage Distribution
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders
HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index
Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.
Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix
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Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator
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Building Automation Specialist in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)
Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and California tax codes.
Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways
Statutory Withholding Architecture
Frequently Asked Questions
Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.
- Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
- FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
- Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
- HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400
Building Automation Specialist in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: Market Snapshot
BLS publishes no Building Automation Specialist wage estimate for Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, so this page uses the national median of $78,190 (10th to 90th percentile $49,510 to $115,700). HUD’s $3,390 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 52.0% of that national median. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $50.95 per hour.
Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Building Automation Specialist
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national median |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $106,250 | +35.9% |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $103,480 | +32.3% |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $103,170 | +31.9% |
| Lexington Park, MD | $102,640 | +31.3% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $102,380 | +30.9% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $102,250 | +30.8% |
| Casper, WY | $99,840 | +27.7% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $98,180 | +25.6% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $97,740 | +25.0% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $97,680 | +24.9% |
Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $209,080 | $100.52/hr |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $206,880 | $99.46/hr |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $202,380 | $97.30/hr |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $198,770 | $95.56/hr |
| Fundraising Managers | $179,130 | $86.12/hr |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $172,410 | $82.89/hr |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $170,960 | $82.19/hr |
| Marketing Managers | $168,980 | $81.24/hr |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,190 | $80.38/hr |
| Financial Manager | $165,800 | $79.71/hr |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 241 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .
Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network
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Related Skilled Trades Roles in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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Other Metros for Building Automation Specialist
Regional metropolitan labor markets within commuter or relocation distance with local BLS wages and living costs.
Building Automation Specialist median pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $78,190 a year ($37.59/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage. Official 2026 economic data for Building Automation Specialist in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
The median annual wage is $78,190 ($37.59 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $49,510 and $115,700. Source: the national BLS OEWS distribution, because BLS does not publish this occupation for the metro.
On the median wage of $78,190, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $59,900 a year ($4,992 a month) after $18,290 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 23.39%, using 2026 tax rules.