Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Fresno, CA

Each occupation's median wage in Fresno, CA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Fresno, CA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Fresno, CA run 2.2% above the national average (2024), so a Fresno, CA salary is worth about 0.98× 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 Fresno, CA

OccupationMedian, Fresno, CA · vs. national

1English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$137,730
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,240 – $198,130+74.9%
2Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$135,970
Master's degree
$66,610 – $171,190+72.9%
3First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$131,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$114,620 – $153,200+69.0%
4Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$104,250
Bachelor's degree
$65,140 – $118,420+62.0%
5Correctional Officers and Jailers$94,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,880 – $113,660+59.5%
6Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$105,570
Bachelor's degree
$62,110 – $162,120+59.3%
7Teachers and Instructors, All Other$105,200
Bachelor's degree
$59,410 – $120,930+59.1%
8Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$101,280
Master's degree
$48,120 – $129,240+57.4%
9Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$95,950
Bachelor's degree
$63,840 – $140,260+47.3%
10Surveyors$107,230
Bachelor's degree
$61,790 – $160,430+42.1%
11Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$77,840
Associate's degree
$45,430 – $100,910+41.3%
12Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$86,140 – $157,770+40.7%
13Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$100,750
Bachelor's degree
$63,240 – $134,990+39.9%
14Pediatricians, General$289,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,030 – $372,460+37.7%
15Instructional Coordinators$104,260
Master's degree
$46,840 – $132,880+34.6%
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$107,350
Associate's degree
$74,580 – $149,280+34.0%
17Firefighters$79,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,020 – $132,060+33.5%
18Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$98,860
Bachelor's degree
$62,000 – $129,000+33.1%
19Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$65,950
No formal educational credential
$45,180 – $88,510+32.7%
20Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$137,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,270 – $154,300+32.6%
21Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$100,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,280 – $159,420+32.2%
22Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$54,890
Bachelor's degree
$43,500 – $71,210+31.7%
23Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,070 – $127,150+30.8%
24School Psychologists$123,920
Master's degree
$92,550 – $150,200+29.1%
25Registered Nurses$125,420
Bachelor's degree
$89,890 – $167,160+28.6%
26Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$129,120
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,140 – $162,360+28.4%
27Cooks, Fast Food$39,620
No formal educational credential
$34,320 – $48,350+28.3%
28Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$99,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,860 – $165,030+28.1%
29Structural Iron and Steel Workers$80,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $117,110+27.6%
30Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$134,720
Master's degree
$83,500 – $179,080+27.3%
31Fast Food and Counter Workers$39,480
No formal educational credential
$35,070 – $45,830+26.5%
32Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$64,370
Bachelor's degree
$34,320 – $123,700+26.5%
33Nurse Practitioners$166,570
Master's degree
$129,300 – $212,320+25.9%
34Library Assistants, Clerical$46,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,770 – $58,060+25.3%
35Healthcare Social Workers$84,860
Master's degree
$48,970 – $128,300+25.0%
36Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$60,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $76,560+24.9%
37Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,640
Associate's degree
$45,960 – $100,260+24.2%
38Special Education Teachers, All Other$95,120
Bachelor's degree
$69,240 – $124,520+24.2%
39Bill and Account Collectors$58,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,220 – $75,940+24.0%
40First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$60,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,310 – $75,830+23.4%
41Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$45,340
Some college, no degree
$36,710 – $57,240+23.3%
42Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$78,800
Bachelor's degree
$59,840 – $133,730+23.2%
43Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$81,310
Bachelor's degree
$58,280 – $133,480+22.7%
44Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$58,080
Associate's degree
$45,640 – $72,280+22.6%
45Dietitians and Nutritionists$93,470
Bachelor's degree
$48,270 – $111,100+22.3%
46Driver/Sales Workers$47,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $70,180+21.7%
47Crossing Guards and Flaggers$46,190
No formal educational credential
$34,320 – $76,700+21.2%
48Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$90,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,410 – $99,580+21.2%
49Veterinarians$157,460
Doctoral or professional degree
$70,610 – $246,540+21.0%
50Physical Therapists$123,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,250 – $142,770+20.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianFresno, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$137,730	$100,240 – $198,130	+74.9%
2	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$135,970	$66,610 – $171,190	+72.9%
3	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$131,790	$114,620 – $153,200	+69.0%
4	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$104,250	$65,140 – $118,420	+62.0%
5	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,010	$64,880 – $113,660	+59.5%
6	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$105,570	$62,110 – $162,120	+59.3%
7	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$105,200	$59,410 – $120,930	+59.1%
8	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$101,280	$48,120 – $129,240	+57.4%
9	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$95,950	$63,840 – $140,260	+47.3%
10	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$107,230	$61,790 – $160,430	+42.1%
11	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$77,840	$45,430 – $100,910	+41.3%
12	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,150	$86,140 – $157,770	+40.7%
13	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$100,750	$63,240 – $134,990	+39.9%
14	Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$289,290	$77,030 – $372,460	+37.7%
15	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$104,260	$46,840 – $132,880	+34.6%
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$107,350	$74,580 – $149,280	+34.0%
17	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,160	$51,020 – $132,060	+33.5%
18	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$98,860	$62,000 – $129,000	+33.1%
19	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$65,950	$45,180 – $88,510	+32.7%
20	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,080	$99,270 – $154,300	+32.6%
21	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,770	$65,280 – $159,420	+32.2%
22	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$54,890	$43,500 – $71,210	+31.7%
23	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,310	$50,070 – $127,150	+30.8%
24	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$123,920	$92,550 – $150,200	+29.1%
25	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$125,420	$89,890 – $167,160	+28.6%
26	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$129,120	$54,140 – $162,360	+28.4%
27	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$39,620	$34,320 – $48,350	+28.3%
28	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$99,480	$62,860 – $165,030	+28.1%
29	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,110	$46,800 – $117,110	+27.6%
30	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$134,720	$83,500 – $179,080	+27.3%
31	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$39,480	$35,070 – $45,830	+26.5%
32	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$64,370	$34,320 – $123,700	+26.5%
33	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$166,570	$129,300 – $212,320	+25.9%
34	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,250	$35,770 – $58,060	+25.3%
35	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$84,860	$48,970 – $128,300	+25.0%
36	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,850	$47,940 – $76,560	+24.9%
37	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,640	$45,960 – $100,260	+24.2%
38	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$95,120	$69,240 – $124,520	+24.2%
39	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,330	$40,220 – $75,940	+24.0%
40	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,570	$41,310 – $75,830	+23.4%
41	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$45,340	$36,710 – $57,240	+23.3%
42	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$78,800	$59,840 – $133,730	+23.2%
43	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$81,310	$58,280 – $133,480	+22.7%
44	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,080	$45,640 – $72,280	+22.6%
45	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$93,470	$48,270 – $111,100	+22.3%
46	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,170	$35,880 – $70,180	+21.7%
47	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$46,190	$34,320 – $76,700	+21.2%
48	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,090	$56,410 – $99,580	+21.2%
49	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$157,460	$70,610 – $246,540	+21.0%
50	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$123,820	$96,250 – $142,770	+20.5%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Fresno, CA

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