High paying entry level jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

These occupations in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA run 11.9% above the national average (2024), so a San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA salary is worth about 0.89× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

OccupationMedian, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · Employed

1Lawyers$178,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,140 – $336,5908,020
2Computer Hardware Engineers$174,440
Bachelor's degree
$122,910 – $227,9403,330
3Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$166,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,490 – $350,710570
4Physician Assistants$165,160
Master's degree
$109,750 – $214,5701,370
5Pharmacists$165,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$131,400 – $214,4802,840
6Nurse Practitioners$163,860
Master's degree
$131,380 – $215,6402,340
7Software Developers$163,270
Bachelor's degree
$95,420 – $223,26020,610
8Veterinarians$159,750
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,540 – $276,2301,080
9Dentists, General$158,160
Doctoral or professional degree
$90,600 – $259,3201,710
10Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$156,480
Bachelor's degree
$101,120 – $217,6203,450
11Registered Nurses$139,520
Bachelor's degree
$102,480 – $175,21028,680
12Aerospace Engineers$135,010
Bachelor's degree
$96,650 – $209,080800
13Computer Programmers$134,130
Bachelor's degree
$71,010 – $178,9301,600
14Optometrists$133,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$102,250 – $208,180540
15Engineers, All Other$132,790
Bachelor's degree
$77,310 – $195,1903,570
16English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$132,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,160 – $227,140500
17Data Scientists$130,990
Bachelor's degree
$74,110 – $201,1902,830
18Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$130,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,730 – $166,9204,960
19Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$129,630
Associate's degree
$65,290 – $168,060720
20Computer Occupations, All Other$127,600
Bachelor's degree
$60,250 – $186,4407,340
21Electrical Engineers$127,270
Bachelor's degree
$80,080 – $204,6102,400
22Web and Digital Interface Designers$123,850
Bachelor's degree
$54,060 – $205,4001,270
23Dental Hygienists$123,790
Associate's degree
$108,320 – $130,5301,940
24Mechanical Engineers$121,750
Bachelor's degree
$81,460 – $172,7603,370
25Biochemists and Biophysicists$121,740
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,590 – $199,060710
26Occupational Therapists$121,680
Master's degree
$92,790 – $152,1501,620
27Computer and Information Research Scientists$121,530
Master's degree
$82,220 – $195,1901,680
28Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$120,210
Bachelor's degree
$62,380 – $169,3502,280
29Environmental Engineers$119,390
Bachelor's degree
$81,880 – $155,930540
30Computer Systems Analysts$119,090
Bachelor's degree
$76,580 – $170,8105,760
31Industrial Engineers$119,050
Bachelor's degree
$73,530 – $166,1203,990
32Project Management Specialists$117,460
Bachelor's degree
$69,660 – $171,40010,740
33Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$115,160
Bachelor's degree
$78,240 – $211,5401,220
34Physical Therapists$113,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,500 – $158,7002,680
35Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$113,480
Associate's degree
$65,440 – $149,3901,770
36Civil Engineers$108,900
Bachelor's degree
$79,410 – $166,4305,620
37Biological Scientists, All Other$108,350
Bachelor's degree
$69,900 – $162,9001,960
38Urban and Regional Planners$107,710
Master's degree
$80,850 – $136,930760
39Database Administrators$106,820
Bachelor's degree
$59,300 – $171,120730
40Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$106,100
Bachelor's degree
$66,120 – $148,4701,140
41Financial and Investment Analysts$106,040
Bachelor's degree
$66,830 – $173,6703,830
42Network and Computer Systems Administrators$105,170
Bachelor's degree
$72,470 – $154,7102,510
43Respiratory Therapists$105,040
Associate's degree
$82,140 – $131,4401,430
44Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,810
Bachelor's degree
$66,660 – $221,8706,690
45Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$101,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,510 – $175,5203,480
46Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$101,230
Bachelor's degree
$62,520 – $140,4401,440
47Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$101,010
Master's degree
$52,860 – $210,340770
48Logisticians$100,130
Bachelor's degree
$63,560 – $138,4304,410
49Operations Research Analysts$99,230
Bachelor's degree
$68,220 – $170,4601,280
50Web Developers$98,300
Bachelor's degree
$58,010 – $174,430520

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianSan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$178,220	$104,140 – $336,590	8,020
2	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$174,440	$122,910 – $227,940	3,330
3	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$166,850	$82,490 – $350,710	570
4	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$165,160	$109,750 – $214,570	1,370
5	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$165,130	$131,400 – $214,480	2,840
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$163,860	$131,380 – $215,640	2,340
7	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$163,270	$95,420 – $223,260	20,610
8	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$159,750	$67,540 – $276,230	1,080
9	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$158,160	$90,600 – $259,320	1,710
10	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$156,480	$101,120 – $217,620	3,450
11	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$139,520	$102,480 – $175,210	28,680
12	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$135,010	$96,650 – $209,080	800
13	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$134,130	$71,010 – $178,930	1,600
14	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,280	$102,250 – $208,180	540
15	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$132,790	$77,310 – $195,190	3,570
16	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$132,500	$62,160 – $227,140	500
17	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$130,990	$74,110 – $201,190	2,830
18	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$130,980	$78,730 – $166,920	4,960
19	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$129,630	$65,290 – $168,060	720
20	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$127,600	$60,250 – $186,440	7,340
21	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,270	$80,080 – $204,610	2,400
22	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$123,850	$54,060 – $205,400	1,270
23	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$123,790	$108,320 – $130,530	1,940
24	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$121,750	$81,460 – $172,760	3,370
25	Biochemists and BiophysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$121,740	$73,590 – $199,060	710
26	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$121,680	$92,790 – $152,150	1,620
27	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$121,530	$82,220 – $195,190	1,680
28	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$120,210	$62,380 – $169,350	2,280
29	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,390	$81,880 – $155,930	540
30	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$119,090	$76,580 – $170,810	5,760
31	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,050	$73,530 – $166,120	3,990
32	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$117,460	$69,660 – $171,400	10,740
33	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$115,160	$78,240 – $211,540	1,220
34	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$113,850	$77,500 – $158,700	2,680
35	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$113,480	$65,440 – $149,390	1,770
36	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$108,900	$79,410 – $166,430	5,620
37	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,350	$69,900 – $162,900	1,960
38	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$107,710	$80,850 – $136,930	760
39	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$106,820	$59,300 – $171,120	730
40	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$106,100	$66,120 – $148,470	1,140
41	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$106,040	$66,830 – $173,670	3,830
42	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$105,170	$72,470 – $154,710	2,510
43	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$105,040	$82,140 – $131,440	1,430
44	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,810	$66,660 – $221,870	6,690
45	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$101,820	$53,510 – $175,520	3,480
46	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$101,230	$62,520 – $140,440	1,440
47	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$101,010	$52,860 – $210,340	770
48	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$100,130	$63,560 – $138,430	4,410
49	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,230	$68,220 – $170,460	1,280
50	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$98,300	$58,010 – $174,430	520

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

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