PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Nurse Manager Labor and Delivery
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Cruz, CA
$96.01–$122.28/ hour
Top 25% pay
Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
Pay for nurse manager & leaderships in the Santa Cruz area centers on $65.40 per hour, or about $136,030 a year. The lower quarter earns under $40.91 and the upper quarter over $97.77. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. That ranks 22nd of 377 U.S. metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay, and 79th of 333 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Cruz.
- $65.40median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $41–$98typical range per hour
- 440nurse manager & leaderships employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Nurse Manager & Leadership roles in Santa Cruz
PermanentPosted 28 days ago
Nurse Supervisor
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Cruz, CA
$92.51–$117.83/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
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Get my free pay reportNurse Manager & Leadership pay in Santa Cruz, CA
The metro median is in line with the California statewide median of $65.62 per hour. Nationally the median is $56.71 per hour. BLS counts about 440 medical and health services managers employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 4.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.21).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $33.96 | $70,640 | 40% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $40.91 | $85,090 | 28% below U.S. median |
| Median | $65.40 | $136,030 | 15% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $97.77 | $203,360 | 72% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | 103% above U.S. median |
How Santa Cruz ranks
- 22nd of 377 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 79th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 9th of 22 California metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for nurse manager & leadership. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Medical and Health Services Managers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Santa Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $65.40 median hour buys what $59.51 buys at the national price level, 5% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Santa Cruz paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,354
- Per year: $117,720
- Per month: $9,810
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
Travel nurse manager & leadership assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Santa Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of nurse manager & leaderships.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Santa Cruz County
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Cruz County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $65.40/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $80.51/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $80.51/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $80.51/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $80.51/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $80.51/hr | 156,792 |
Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in California · Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do nurse manager & leaderships make in Santa Cruz, CA?
Nurse Manager & Leaderships in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $65.40 per hour, about $136,030 a year. The middle half earn between $40.91 and $97.77 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Cruz a good place for nurse manager & leaderships once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 79th of 333 metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay after adjusting for local prices, and 22nd of 377 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring nurse manager & leaderships in Santa Cruz?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Santa Cruz. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santa Cruz.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz as a nurse manager & leadership?
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Santa Cruz in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Cruz County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Santa Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place nurse manager & leaderships in Santa Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
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What do employers near Santa Cruz pay nurse manager & leaderships? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Nurse Leader pay reportSanta Cruz, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$121.16/ hr$90–$148
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 2 postings$95.54/ hr$76–$115
- Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenSacramento, CA · 2 postings$94.05/ hr$59–$127
- Veterans Health AdministrationLong Beach, CA · 3 postings$80.49/ hr$48–$110
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$50Median$71.37High$102
57 Nurse Leader postings with published pay in California, 51 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 57 Nurse Leader roles
- Registered Nurse- Assistant Nurse Manager-V2/Spinal Cord InjuryPermanent$121k–$213k/ year
- Assistant Nurse ManagerPermanent$58.68–$89.32/ hour
+ 55 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.