Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

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

Cost of living: prices in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA run 6.4% above the national average (2024), so a Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA salary is worth about 0.94× 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

OccupationMedian, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA · vs. national

1Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$163,750
Master's degree
$55,940 – $250,700+108.3%
2First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$131,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$96,530 – $155,040+69.0%
3Correctional Officers and Jailers$94,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,380 – $114,730+60.7%
4Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$100,810
Bachelor's degree
$67,970 – $130,220+56.6%
5Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$98,520
Bachelor's degree
$62,330 – $130,850+54.0%
6Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$161,380
Master's degree
$111,910 – $197,750+52.4%
7First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$159,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$131,050 – $201,900+50.7%
8Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$96,780
Master's degree
$49,150 – $154,420+50.4%
9Teachers and Instructors, All Other$97,070
Bachelor's degree
$50,610 – $129,540+46.8%
10Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$96,970
Bachelor's degree
$61,940 – $134,260+46.3%
11Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$60,780
Bachelor's degree
$47,030 – $74,290+45.9%
12Public Safety Telecommunicators$77,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,970 – $90,920+45.7%
13School Psychologists$139,400
Master's degree
$103,470 – $162,170+45.2%
14Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$87,370
Master's degree
$49,130 – $142,280+44.9%
15Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$91,840
Bachelor's degree
$63,390 – $123,370+41.0%
16Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$103,730
Bachelor's degree
$69,020 – $131,640+39.7%
17Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$100,130
Bachelor's degree
$62,980 – $133,990+39.0%
18Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$82,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,870 – $112,070+37.9%
19Cooks, Fast Food$42,480
No formal educational credential
$34,800 – $44,080+37.5%
20Registered Nurses$133,940
Bachelor's degree
$100,510 – $172,900+37.3%
21Detectives and Criminal Investigators$127,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,230 – $159,150+35.9%
22Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,280
No formal educational credential
$34,790 – $46,540+35.5%
23Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$128,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,080 – $163,260+35.1%
24Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$138,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,070 – $156,210+33.8%
25Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$101,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,800 – $146,450+33.7%
26Firefighters$79,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,410 – $108,730+33.5%
27Special Education Teachers, All Other$101,850
Bachelor's degree
$77,230 – $128,480+33.0%
28Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$64,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,310 – $83,880+32.5%
29Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$82,550
Bachelor's degree
$59,890 – $114,360+31.7%
30Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$66,920
Bachelor's degree
$34,320 – $130,490+31.5%
31Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,640 – $127,840+31.5%
32Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$105,190
Associate's degree
$71,970 – $133,950+31.3%
33Library Assistants, Clerical$47,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,750 – $61,810+29.6%
34Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$100,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,390 – $212,510+29.5%
35Bus Drivers, School$61,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,780 – $72,170+29.2%
36Nurse Practitioners$169,920
Master's degree
$130,630 – $213,970+28.4%
37Property Appraisers and Assessors$86,260
Bachelor's degree
$52,810 – $157,420+26.9%
38Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$64,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,380 – $93,860+26.8%
39Library Technicians$56,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,510 – $71,390+26.8%
40Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$104,110
Bachelor's degree
$62,250 – $146,980+26.6%
41Dietetic Technicians$47,640
Associate's degree
$35,610 – $63,270+26.6%
42Construction Laborers$59,500
No formal educational credential
$38,690 – $96,080+26.3%
43Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$46,330
Some college, no degree
$37,400 – $57,160+26.0%
44Healthcare Social Workers$85,360
Master's degree
$48,800 – $131,160+25.8%
45Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$92,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,570 – $100,080+25.0%
46Medical Equipment Preparers$59,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,890 – $92,050+24.9%
47Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$61,940
No formal educational credential
$46,230 – $74,920+24.7%
48Dietitians and Nutritionists$95,280
Bachelor's degree
$73,420 – $117,890+24.7%
49Tree Trimmers and Pruners$63,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,670 – $88,960+24.6%
50Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,710
Associate's degree
$50,720 – $103,140+24.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianRiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$163,750	$55,940 – $250,700	+108.3%
2	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$131,780	$96,530 – $155,040	+69.0%
3	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,730	$63,380 – $114,730	+60.7%
4	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$100,810	$67,970 – $130,220	+56.6%
5	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$98,520	$62,330 – $130,850	+54.0%
6	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$161,380	$111,910 – $197,750	+52.4%
7	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$159,810	$131,050 – $201,900	+50.7%
8	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$96,780	$49,150 – $154,420	+50.4%
9	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$97,070	$50,610 – $129,540	+46.8%
10	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$96,970	$61,940 – $134,260	+46.3%
11	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$60,780	$47,030 – $74,290	+45.9%
12	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,260	$54,970 – $90,920	+45.7%
13	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$139,400	$103,470 – $162,170	+45.2%
14	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$87,370	$49,130 – $142,280	+44.9%
15	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$91,840	$63,390 – $123,370	+41.0%
16	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$103,730	$69,020 – $131,640	+39.7%
17	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$100,130	$62,980 – $133,990	+39.0%
18	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,780	$56,870 – $112,070	+37.9%
19	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$42,480	$34,800 – $44,080	+37.5%
20	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$133,940	$100,510 – $172,900	+37.3%
21	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,420	$83,230 – $159,150	+35.9%
22	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$42,280	$34,790 – $46,540	+35.5%
23	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$128,750	$75,080 – $163,260	+35.1%
24	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,390	$104,070 – $156,210	+33.8%
25	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,870	$70,800 – $146,450	+33.7%
26	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,160	$56,410 – $108,730	+33.5%
27	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$101,850	$77,230 – $128,480	+33.0%
28	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,550	$50,310 – $83,880	+32.5%
29	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$82,550	$59,890 – $114,360	+31.7%
30	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$66,920	$34,320 – $130,490	+31.5%
31	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,720	$48,640 – $127,840	+31.5%
32	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$105,190	$71,970 – $133,950	+31.3%
33	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,850	$35,750 – $61,810	+29.6%
34	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$100,550	$60,390 – $212,510	+29.5%
35	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,900	$42,780 – $72,170	+29.2%
36	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$169,920	$130,630 – $213,970	+28.4%
37	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$86,260	$52,810 – $157,420	+26.9%
38	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,210	$36,380 – $93,860	+26.8%
39	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,510	$34,510 – $71,390	+26.8%
40	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$104,110	$62,250 – $146,980	+26.6%
41	Dietetic TechniciansAssociate's degree	$47,640	$35,610 – $63,270	+26.6%
42	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$59,500	$38,690 – $96,080	+26.3%
43	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$46,330	$37,400 – $57,160	+26.0%
44	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$85,360	$48,800 – $131,160	+25.8%
45	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,910	$57,570 – $100,080	+25.0%
46	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,560	$44,890 – $92,050	+24.9%
47	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$61,940	$46,230 – $74,920	+24.7%
48	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$95,280	$73,420 – $117,890	+24.7%
49	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,500	$46,670 – $88,960	+24.6%
50	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,710	$50,720 – $103,140	+24.3%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

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