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

Every occupation here pays well in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$142,150
Associate's degree
$87,190 – $175,32040
2Respiratory Therapists$134,880
Associate's degree
$100,040 – $161,25070
3Dental Hygienists$130,600
Associate's degree
$106,880 – $145,600220
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$129,920
Associate's degree
$62,650 – $164,890110
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$122,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,830 – $152,340400
6Computer Network Support Specialists$102,980
Associate's degree
$43,030 – $146,81050
7Surgical Technologists$100,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,260 – $130,48080
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$95,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,940 – $143,32060
9Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$94,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,650 – $119,09080
10Physical Therapist Assistants$87,330
Associate's degree
$63,940 – $112,61060
11Public Safety Telecommunicators$85,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,290 – $114,74090
12Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$83,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,450 – $108,25060
13Medical Equipment Preparers$81,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,050 – $85,82050
14Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$81,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,510 – $101,820340
15Correctional Officers and Jailers$80,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,050 – $101,500120
16Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$78,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,760 – $115,790210
17Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$77,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,340 – $79,92050
18Carpenters$77,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $114,300700
19Electricians$76,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,290 – $126,560330
20Computer User Support Specialists$75,720
Some college, no degree
$49,490 – $113,500210
21Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$75,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,510 – $99,33090
22Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$75,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,130 – $136,950130
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,770 – $154,290750
24Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$75,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $99,41060
25Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$74,740
No formal educational credential
$46,850 – $83,630120
26Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$72,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,270 – $96,570150
27Tax Preparers$71,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,530 – $93,73060
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,610 – $96,410100
29Solar Photovoltaic Installers$69,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,690 – $102,23040
30Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$68,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $88,480120
31Plasterers and Stucco Masons$68,210
No formal educational credential
$47,160 – $103,230100
32Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$68,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $124,660350
33Architectural and Civil Drafters$67,930
Associate's degree
$58,450 – $100,27040
34Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$67,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,980 – $101,550240
35Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,270 – $87,61030
36Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$66,290
Associate's degree
$55,530 – $109,41050
37Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,820 – $133,49030
38Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$66,000
Associate's degree
$48,410 – $125,39050
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$65,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,200 – $130,190550
40Firefighters$64,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,590 – $99,550380
41Paralegals and Legal Assistants$64,690
Associate's degree
$52,210 – $97,780150
42Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$63,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,420 – $83,790100
43Insurance Sales Agents$63,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $131,120170
44Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$62,810
Associate's degree
$49,650 – $75,120150
45Automotive Body and Related Repairers$62,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $83,550100
46Painters, Construction and Maintenance$62,400
No formal educational credential
$42,680 – $80,560230
47Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$48,940 – $81,040230
48Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$61,960
Some college, no degree
$43,410 – $98,8201,120
49Sales and Related Workers, All Other$61,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,990 – $103,590150
50Roofers$61,640
No formal educational credential
$48,200 – $75,630140

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	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$142,150	$87,190 – $175,320	40
2	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$134,880	$100,040 – $161,250	70
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$130,600	$106,880 – $145,600	220
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$129,920	$62,650 – $164,890	110
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,970	$79,830 – $152,340	400
6	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$102,980	$43,030 – $146,810	50
7	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,130	$65,260 – $130,480	80
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,730	$50,940 – $143,320	60
9	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,060	$60,650 – $119,090	80
10	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$87,330	$63,940 – $112,610	60
11	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,950	$62,290 – $114,740	90
12	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,030	$62,450 – $108,250	60
13	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,370	$38,050 – $85,820	50
14	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,000	$64,510 – $101,820	340
15	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,950	$60,050 – $101,500	120
16	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,330	$47,760 – $115,790	210
17	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,780	$49,340 – $79,920	50
18	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,690	$48,220 – $114,300	700
19	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,610	$48,290 – $126,560	330
20	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$75,720	$49,490 – $113,500	210
21	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,670	$56,510 – $99,330	90
22	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,640	$55,130 – $136,950	130
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,310	$42,770 – $154,290	750
24	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,270	$46,810 – $99,410	60
25	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$74,740	$46,850 – $83,630	120
26	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,830	$41,270 – $96,570	150
27	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,800	$43,530 – $93,730	60
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,790	$48,610 – $96,410	100
29	Solar Photovoltaic InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,550	$50,690 – $102,230	40
30	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,380	$39,110 – $88,480	120
31	Plasterers and Stucco MasonsNo formal educational credential	$68,210	$47,160 – $103,230	100
32	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,130	$47,770 – $124,660	350
33	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$67,930	$58,450 – $100,270	40
34	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,530	$45,980 – $101,550	240
35	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,940	$49,270 – $87,610	30
36	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$66,290	$55,530 – $109,410	50
37	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$48,820 – $133,490	30
38	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$66,000	$48,410 – $125,390	50
39	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,600	$39,200 – $130,190	550
40	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,980	$40,590 – $99,550	380
41	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,690	$52,210 – $97,780	150
42	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,690	$45,420 – $83,790	100
43	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,300	$38,880 – $131,120	170
44	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,810	$49,650 – $75,120	150
45	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,610	$39,410 – $83,550	100
46	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$62,400	$42,680 – $80,560	230
47	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$48,940 – $81,040	230
48	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$61,960	$43,410 – $98,820	1,120
49	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,920	$38,990 – $103,590	150
50	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$61,640	$48,200 – $75,630	140

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 experience

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