Healthcare jobs and pay in Watsonville, CA
Watsonville healthcare pay by profession, from the BLS metro-area wage data, with cost of living, hospitals and what travel assignments pay here. Registered nurses earn a median of $86.01 per hour. The free report adds named employers and open roles.
What healthcare pays in Watsonville
| Profession | Median / hr | Typical range / hr | Median / year | Employed in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $86.01 | $59–$98 | $178,900 | 1,610 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $38.26 | $37–$46 | $79,580 | 350 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | $22.47 | $22–$23 | $46,730 | 350 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $76.49 | $65–$93 | $159,090 | 180 |
| CRNA | $115+ | $49–$115+ | $239,200+ | — |
| Radiologic Technologist | $59.80 | $50–$76 | $124,370 | 120 |
| CT Technologist | $59.80 | $50–$76 | $124,370 | 120 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $49.10 | $44–$60 | $102,120 | — |
| Surgical Technologist | $39.00 | $32–$47 | $81,120 | — |
| Physical Therapist | $61.72 | $47–$68 | $128,370 | 140 |
| Occupational Therapist | $64.35 | $52–$73 | $133,850 | 80 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $52.62 | $45–$65 | $109,450 | 110 |
| Medical Coder | $25.27 | $23–$37 | $52,550 | 80 |
| CDI Specialist | $45.84 | $34–$63 | $95,340 | — |
| Utilization Review Nurse | $86.01 | $59–$98 | $178,900 | 1,610 |
| Telehealth / Triage Nurse | $86.01 | $59–$98 | $178,900 | 1,610 |
| Patient Access Representative | $19.54 | $17–$23 | $40,650 | 660 |
| EHR / Epic Analyst | $52.26 | $41–$64 | $108,700 | 290 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | $39.58 | $32–$51 | $82,320 | 210 |
| Pharmacist | $78.19 | $71–$86 | $162,630 | 150 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $23.76 | $22–$29 | $49,420 | 280 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | $38.52 | $29–$42 | $80,110 | 100 |
| Phlebotomist | $27.63 | $23–$33 | $57,460 | 40 |
| Nurse Informaticist | $86.01 | $59–$98 | $178,900 | 1,610 |
| Healthcare IT Support Specialist | $35.29 | $29–$43 | $73,410 | 210 |
| Biomedical Equipment Technician | $35.51 | $28–$45 | $73,860 | — |
| MRI Technologist | $58.88 | $45–$70 | $122,470 | — |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $73.07 | $56–$81 | $151,980 | 40 |
| Echocardiography Technologist | $31.12 | $31–$51 | $64,720 | — |
| Cath Lab Technologist | $31.12 | $31–$51 | $64,720 | — |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $74.62 | $62–$81 | $155,220 | — |
| Physician Assistant | $74.30 | $58–$78 | $154,540 | 0 |
| Nurse Case Manager | $86.01 | $59–$98 | $178,900 | 1,610 |
| Nurse Manager & Leadership | $65.40 | $41–$98 | $136,030 | 440 |
| Registered Dietitian | $46.86 | $39–$53 | $97,460 | 50 |
| Clinical Social Worker | $44.82 | $32–$58 | $93,230 | 110 |
| Medical Assistant | $23.59 | $22–$30 | $49,070 | 910 |
| Sterile Processing Technician | $38.37 | $26–$38 | $79,820 | 50 |
| Medical Biller | $26.56 | $23–$34 | $55,230 | 250 |
| Dentist | $97.37 | $68–$110 | $202,520 | 0 |
| Dental Hygienist | $61.11 | $61–$61 | $127,120 | 170 |
| Dental Assistant | $24.06 | $23–$30 | $50,050 | 410 |
| Dental Office Manager | $65.40 | $41–$98 | $136,030 | 440 |
| Dental Front Office & Treatment Coordinator | $23.98 | $22–$28 | $49,880 | 620 |
| Dental Lab Technician | $23.31 | $21–$31 | $48,480 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area (statewide where the metro figure is not published). Pick a profession for the full pay breakdown, rankings and open roles.
Cost of living in Watsonville
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9).
- Housing runs 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Travel assignment per diem in Watsonville
The federal per diem benchmark for travel assignments in Watsonville is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on your tax home. See the travel pay calculator.
Hospitals in Watsonville
CMS lists 1 hospital in Watsonville.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville Community Hospital | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Cities near Watsonville
| City | Distance | RN median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilroy, CA | 12 mi | $100.45/hr | 60,390 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 15 mi | $86.01/hr | 62,581 |
| Salinas, CA | 18 mi | $64.94/hr | 160,783 |
| San Jose, CA | 26 mi | $100.45/hr | 997,368 |
| Cupertino, CA | 31 mi | $100.45/hr | 58,710 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 32 mi | $100.45/hr | 133,132 |
Common questions
How much do healthcare workers make in Watsonville?
Registered nurses in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area earn a median of $86.01 per hour, about $178,900 a year (BLS, May 2024). The table above lists 45 professions with their own medians and ranges.
How many hospitals are in Watsonville?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Watsonville, California.
Does Valorem Health place staff in Watsonville?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Watsonville and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Watsonville.
What do employers near Watsonville pay? 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
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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Your RN pay reportWatsonville, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$108.25/ hr$94–$123
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 16 postings$106.18/ hr$59–$119
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 8 postings$103.75/ hr$90–$113
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 7 postings$85.12/ hr$73–$111
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
536 RN postings with published pay in California, 518 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 536 RN roles
- RN Float PoolPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
- RN Physical RehabilitationPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
+ 534 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.