High paying jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA run 9.9% above the national average (2024), so a Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA salary is worth about 0.91× 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

OccupationMedian, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$172,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$125,410 – $198,92070
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$142,150
Associate's degree
$87,190 – $175,32040
3Respiratory Therapists$134,880
Associate's degree
$100,040 – $161,25070
4Dental Hygienists$130,600
Associate's degree
$106,880 – $145,600220
5Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$129,920
Associate's degree
$62,650 – $164,890110
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$122,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,830 – $152,340400
7Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$112,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,240 – $214,190110
8First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$111,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,700 – $201,49050
9Computer Network Support Specialists$102,980
Associate's degree
$43,030 – $146,81050
10Detectives and Criminal Investigators$102,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,980 – $149,82040
11Surgical Technologists$100,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,260 – $130,48080
12Construction and Building Inspectors$98,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $133,26060
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$95,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,940 – $143,32060
14Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$94,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,650 – $119,09080
15Physical Therapist Assistants$87,330
Associate's degree
$63,940 – $112,61060
16First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$87,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,170 – $155,720300
17Public Safety Telecommunicators$85,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,290 – $114,74090
18Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$84,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,650 – $126,000260
19Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$83,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,450 – $108,25060
20Medical Equipment Preparers$81,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,050 – $85,82050
21Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$81,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,510 – $101,820340
22Correctional Officers and Jailers$80,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,050 – $101,500120
23First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,370 – $125,220270
24First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$78,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,570 – $129,43080
25Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$78,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,760 – $115,790210
26Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$77,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,340 – $79,92050
27Carpenters$77,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $114,300700
28Food Service Managers$77,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,500 – $110,500240
29First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$77,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,480 – $112,850860
30Electricians$76,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,290 – $126,560330
31Computer User Support Specialists$75,720
Some college, no degree
$49,490 – $113,500210
32Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$75,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,510 – $99,33090
33Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$75,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,130 – $136,950130
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,770 – $154,290750
35Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$75,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $99,41060
36Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$74,740
No formal educational credential
$46,850 – $83,630120
37First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,240 – $123,610270
38Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$72,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,270 – $96,570150
39Tax Preparers$71,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,530 – $93,73060
40Paramedics$71,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,280 – $100,63040
41Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$71,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,140 – $142,540230
42Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,610 – $96,410100
43First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$69,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,440 – $99,280140
44Solar Photovoltaic Installers$69,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,690 – $102,23040
45Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$68,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $88,480120
46Plasterers and Stucco Masons$68,210
No formal educational credential
$47,160 – $103,230100
47Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$68,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $124,660350
48Architectural and Civil Drafters$67,930
Associate's degree
$58,450 – $100,27040
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$67,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,980 – $101,550240
50Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,270 – $87,61030

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

#	Occupation	MedianSanta Cruz-Watsonville, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$172,590	$125,410 – $198,920	70
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$142,150	$87,190 – $175,320	40
3	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$134,880	$100,040 – $161,250	70
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$130,600	$106,880 – $145,600	220
5	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$129,920	$62,650 – $164,890	110
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,970	$79,830 – $152,340	400
7	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$112,570	$72,240 – $214,190	110
8	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$111,560	$53,700 – $201,490	50
9	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$102,980	$43,030 – $146,810	50
10	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,710	$77,980 – $149,820	40
11	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,130	$65,260 – $130,480	80
12	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,680	$47,850 – $133,260	60
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,730	$50,940 – $143,320	60
14	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,060	$60,650 – $119,090	80
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$87,330	$63,940 – $112,610	60
16	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,180	$59,170 – $155,720	300
17	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,950	$62,290 – $114,740	90
18	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,090	$57,650 – $126,000	260
19	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,030	$62,450 – $108,250	60
20	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,370	$38,050 – $85,820	50
21	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,000	$64,510 – $101,820	340
22	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,950	$60,050 – $101,500	120
23	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,820	$54,370 – $125,220	270
24	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,590	$52,570 – $129,430	80
25	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,330	$47,760 – $115,790	210
26	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,780	$49,340 – $79,920	50
27	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,690	$48,220 – $114,300	700
28	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,470	$46,500 – $110,500	240
29	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,410	$50,480 – $112,850	860
30	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,610	$48,290 – $126,560	330
31	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$75,720	$49,490 – $113,500	210
32	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,670	$56,510 – $99,330	90
33	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,640	$55,130 – $136,950	130
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,310	$42,770 – $154,290	750
35	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,270	$46,810 – $99,410	60
36	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$74,740	$46,850 – $83,630	120
37	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,690	$47,240 – $123,610	270
38	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,830	$41,270 – $96,570	150
39	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,800	$43,530 – $93,730	60
40	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,390	$52,280 – $100,630	40
41	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,070	$40,140 – $142,540	230
42	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,790	$48,610 – $96,410	100
43	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,770	$45,440 – $99,280	140
44	Solar Photovoltaic InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,550	$50,690 – $102,230	40
45	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,380	$39,110 – $88,480	120
46	Plasterers and Stucco MasonsNo formal educational credential	$68,210	$47,160 – $103,230	100
47	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,130	$47,770 – $124,660	350
48	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$67,930	$58,450 – $100,270	40
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,530	$45,980 – $101,550	240
50	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,940	$49,270 – $87,610	30

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA that need no degree

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