Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Modesto, CA

Each occupation's median wage in Modesto, 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 Modesto, CA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Modesto, CA run 4.1% above the national average (2024), so a Modesto, CA salary is worth about 0.96× 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 Modesto, CA

OccupationMedian, Modesto, CA · vs. national

1Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$129,080
Bachelor's degree
$49,910 – $129,450+109.7%
2Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$88,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $97,460+94.4%
3Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$103,790
Bachelor's degree
$60,580 – $127,630+65.6%
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$129,030
Associate's degree
$78,660 – $172,850+61.1%
5Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$101,640
Bachelor's degree
$64,670 – $128,290+58.9%
6Education Administrators, All Other$150,500
Bachelor's degree
$59,970 – $191,990+58.1%
7Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,250
Bachelor's degree
$66,310 – $125,060+57.3%
8Teachers and Instructors, All Other$103,910
Bachelor's degree
$64,100 – $128,700+57.1%
9Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$63,440
Bachelor's degree
$60,340 – $94,450+52.2%
10Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$160,240
Master's degree
$128,430 – $174,590+51.4%
11Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$90,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,020 – $131,850+51.3%
12Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$94,370
Master's degree
$51,810 – $129,880+46.7%
13Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$96,940
Bachelor's degree
$75,420 – $124,260+46.3%
14Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$141,210
Associate's degree
$80,400 – $177,780+46.2%
15Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$73,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $74,980+42.8%
16Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$59,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,020 – $82,930+41.9%
17Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$105,400
Associate's degree
$62,460 – $173,170+41.8%
18Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,890
Bachelor's degree
$78,440 – $127,340+41.4%
19Healthcare Social Workers$95,250
Master's degree
$56,870 – $131,580+40.3%
20Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$143,760
Doctoral or professional degree
$120,240 – $166,260+39.0%
21Cooks, Fast Food$42,510
No formal educational credential
$36,120 – $46,940+37.6%
22Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,630
No formal educational credential
$35,270 – $47,030+36.6%
23Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$61,130
No formal educational credential
$36,670 – $67,250+36.4%
24Registered Nurses$132,590
Bachelor's degree
$102,770 – $197,800+35.9%
25Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$62,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,780 – $76,500+35.2%
26Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$100,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,000 – $102,300+35.1%
27Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$104,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,290 – $173,470+35.1%
28Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$65,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,690 – $79,320+34.8%
29Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$76,500
No formal educational credential
$46,470 – $106,590+34.2%
30School Psychologists$128,750
Master's degree
$111,660 – $164,210+34.1%
31Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$98,170
Bachelor's degree
$72,040 – $125,590+32.2%
32Special Education Teachers, All Other$101,030
Bachelor's degree
$76,740 – $125,540+31.9%
33Bus Drivers, School$62,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,780 – $68,410+31.2%
34Nurse Practitioners$173,380
Master's degree
$138,470 – $249,600+31.1%
35Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,340 – $97,550+31.1%
36Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$78,880
Master's degree
$50,810 – $180,810+30.9%
37Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$48,770
No formal educational credential
$35,300 – $63,140+30.8%
38Production Workers, All Other$52,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,910 – $70,840+30.7%
39Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$47,990
Some college, no degree
$37,760 – $58,650+30.5%
40Firefighters$77,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,320 – $126,420+30.5%
41Orderlies$49,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,520 – $49,890+30.3%
42Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,630 – $90,910+29.9%
43Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$49,500
Associate's degree
$37,830 – $77,400+29.8%
44Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$61,750
Some college, no degree
$40,040 – $77,860+29.2%
45First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$136,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$112,970 – $203,470+29.1%
46Instructional Coordinators$99,870
Master's degree
$63,560 – $143,230+29.0%
47Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$98,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,230 – $123,690+28.9%
48Construction Laborers$60,630
No formal educational credential
$39,380 – $81,840+28.7%
49First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$63,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $97,080+28.4%
50Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$65,290
Bachelor's degree
$34,320 – $139,210+28.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianModesto, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$129,080	$49,910 – $129,450	+109.7%
2	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,940	$38,230 – $97,460	+94.4%
3	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$103,790	$60,580 – $127,630	+65.6%
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$129,030	$78,660 – $172,850	+61.1%
5	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$101,640	$64,670 – $128,290	+58.9%
6	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$150,500	$59,970 – $191,990	+58.1%
7	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$101,250	$66,310 – $125,060	+57.3%
8	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,910	$64,100 – $128,700	+57.1%
9	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$63,440	$60,340 – $94,450	+52.2%
10	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$160,240	$128,430 – $174,590	+51.4%
11	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,560	$52,020 – $131,850	+51.3%
12	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$94,370	$51,810 – $129,880	+46.7%
13	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$96,940	$75,420 – $124,260	+46.3%
14	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$141,210	$80,400 – $177,780	+46.2%
15	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,690	$40,830 – $74,980	+42.8%
16	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,010	$36,020 – $82,930	+41.9%
17	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$105,400	$62,460 – $173,170	+41.8%
18	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$101,890	$78,440 – $127,340	+41.4%
19	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$95,250	$56,870 – $131,580	+40.3%
20	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$143,760	$120,240 – $166,260	+39.0%
21	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$42,510	$36,120 – $46,940	+37.6%
22	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$42,630	$35,270 – $47,030	+36.6%
23	Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$61,130	$36,670 – $67,250	+36.4%
24	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$132,590	$102,770 – $197,800	+35.9%
25	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,100	$44,780 – $76,500	+35.2%
26	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,400	$63,000 – $102,300	+35.1%
27	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$104,890	$59,290 – $173,470	+35.1%
28	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,640	$55,690 – $79,320	+34.8%
29	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$76,500	$46,470 – $106,590	+34.2%
30	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$128,750	$111,660 – $164,210	+34.1%
31	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$98,170	$72,040 – $125,590	+32.2%
32	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$101,030	$76,740 – $125,540	+31.9%
33	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,870	$47,780 – $68,410	+31.2%
34	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$173,380	$138,470 – $249,600	+31.1%
35	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,710	$53,340 – $97,550	+31.1%
36	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$78,880	$50,810 – $180,810	+30.9%
37	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$48,770	$35,300 – $63,140	+30.8%
38	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,430	$35,910 – $70,840	+30.7%
39	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$47,990	$37,760 – $58,650	+30.5%
40	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,370	$62,320 – $126,420	+30.5%
41	OrderliesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,890	$45,520 – $49,890	+30.3%
42	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$39,630 – $90,910	+29.9%
43	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$49,500	$37,830 – $77,400	+29.8%
44	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$61,750	$40,040 – $77,860	+29.2%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$136,920	$112,970 – $203,470	+29.1%
46	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$99,870	$63,560 – $143,230	+29.0%
47	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,230	$78,230 – $123,690	+28.9%
48	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$60,630	$39,380 – $81,840	+28.7%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,030	$39,090 – $97,080	+28.4%
50	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$65,290	$34,320 – $139,210	+28.3%

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