Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Salinas, CA

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

Cost of living: prices in Salinas, CA run 9.0% above the national average (2024), so a Salinas, CA salary is worth about 0.92× 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 Salinas, CA

OccupationMedian, Salinas, CA · vs. national

1Correctional Officers and Jailers$109,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,800 – $116,270+86.0%
2Teachers and Instructors, All Other$113,360
Bachelor's degree
$87,460 – $207,480+71.4%
3Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$62,540
No formal educational credential
$35,730 – $81,160+70.5%
4Family Medicine Physicians$410,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$146,830 – $461,330+68.1%
5Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$97,200
Master's degree
$50,640 – $129,120+61.2%
6Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$100,220
Bachelor's degree
$64,050 – $125,450+56.7%
7Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$100,360
Master's degree
$56,820 – $136,020+56.0%
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$118,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,390 – $142,280+55.1%
9Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$63,970
Bachelor's degree
$39,170 – $94,660+53.5%
10Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$161,590
Master's degree
$111,710 – $205,340+52.6%
11Special Education Teachers, All Other$112,900
Bachelor's degree
$73,860 – $129,140+47.4%
12First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$153,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$109,600 – $206,670+45.2%
13Physicians, All Other$384,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,210 – $396,220+44.8%
14Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,590
Bachelor's degree
$63,760 – $131,210+41.0%
15Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$76,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,440 – $89,920+40.4%
16Urban and Regional Planners$125,300
Master's degree
$77,600 – $163,920+40.3%
17Cooks, Fast Food$43,120
No formal educational credential
$35,130 – $47,010+39.6%
18Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$69,210
No formal educational credential
$45,640 – $69,210+39.3%
19Fast Food and Counter Workers$43,260
No formal educational credential
$35,290 – $46,790+38.7%
20Registered Nurses$134,910
Bachelor's degree
$102,300 – $176,990+38.3%
21Firefighters$81,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,540 – $122,590+36.8%
22Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$122,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,190 – $169,100+36.4%
23Healthcare Social Workers$92,540
Master's degree
$61,750 – $121,640+36.3%
24File Clerks$59,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,330 – $77,760+35.4%
25Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$100,450
Bachelor's degree
$60,530 – $126,740+35.3%
26Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$75,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,920 – $102,860+35.2%
27Sheet Metal Workers$83,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,100 – $135,810+35.1%
28Construction and Building Inspectors$100,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,830 – $148,640+35.0%
29First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$78,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,450 – $99,020+34.7%
30Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$80,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,730 – $131,930+34.2%
31Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$138,590
Doctoral or professional degree
$94,060 – $160,710+34.0%
32Dietitians and Nutritionists$101,640
Bachelor's degree
$76,330 – $125,170+33.0%
33Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$63,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,040 – $73,480+31.1%
34Construction Laborers$61,680
No formal educational credential
$45,620 – $99,030+30.9%
35Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$48,030
Some college, no degree
$38,660 – $59,930+30.6%
36Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$101,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,750 – $136,640+30.6%
37Loan Interviewers and Clerks$65,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,400 – $84,400+30.3%
38Bus Drivers, School$62,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,630 – $70,760+30.2%
39Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$77,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,820 – $125,540+29.8%
40Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$61,330
Associate's degree
$49,620 – $75,890+29.4%
41Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$76,620
Bachelor's degree
$47,280 – $140,630+29.2%
42Highway Maintenance Workers$64,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,290 – $79,090+27.7%
43Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$102,330
Associate's degree
$62,910 – $129,920+27.7%
44Procurement Clerks$64,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,770 – $74,940+27.6%
45Mechanical Engineers$132,560
Bachelor's degree
$69,240 – $175,200+27.3%
46Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$64,660
Bachelor's degree
$34,320 – $173,700+27.1%
47Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$59,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $89,960+27.0%
48Medical Equipment Preparers$60,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $75,400+26.8%
49Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$48,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $60,620+26.4%
50Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,340 – $96,370+25.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianSalinas, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,620	$69,800 – $116,270	+86.0%
2	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$113,360	$87,460 – $207,480	+71.4%
3	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$62,540	$35,730 – $81,160	+70.5%
4	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$410,370	$146,830 – $461,330	+68.1%
5	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$97,200	$50,640 – $129,120	+61.2%
6	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$100,220	$64,050 – $125,450	+56.7%
7	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$100,360	$56,820 – $136,020	+56.0%
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,220	$78,390 – $142,280	+55.1%
9	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$63,970	$39,170 – $94,660	+53.5%
10	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$161,590	$111,710 – $205,340	+52.6%
11	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$112,900	$73,860 – $129,140	+47.4%
12	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$153,930	$109,600 – $206,670	+45.2%
13	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$384,990	$81,210 – $396,220	+44.8%
14	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$101,590	$63,760 – $131,210	+41.0%
15	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,090	$62,440 – $89,920	+40.4%
16	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$125,300	$77,600 – $163,920	+40.3%
17	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$43,120	$35,130 – $47,010	+39.6%
18	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$69,210	$45,640 – $69,210	+39.3%
19	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$43,260	$35,290 – $46,790	+38.7%
20	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$134,910	$102,300 – $176,990	+38.3%
21	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,070	$51,540 – $122,590	+36.8%
22	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,630	$82,190 – $169,100	+36.4%
23	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$92,540	$61,750 – $121,640	+36.3%
24	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,040	$36,330 – $77,760	+35.4%
25	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$100,450	$60,530 – $126,740	+35.3%
26	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,150	$48,920 – $102,860	+35.2%
27	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,470	$52,100 – $135,810	+35.1%
28	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,830	$69,830 – $148,640	+35.0%
29	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,730	$46,450 – $99,020	+34.7%
30	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,320	$59,730 – $131,930	+34.2%
31	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,590	$94,060 – $160,710	+34.0%
32	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$101,640	$76,330 – $125,170	+33.0%
33	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,830	$53,040 – $73,480	+31.1%
34	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$61,680	$45,620 – $99,030	+30.9%
35	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$48,030	$38,660 – $59,930	+30.6%
36	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,900	$63,750 – $136,640	+30.6%
37	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,160	$43,400 – $84,400	+30.3%
38	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,390	$45,630 – $70,760	+30.2%
39	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,920	$60,820 – $125,540	+29.8%
40	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,330	$49,620 – $75,890	+29.4%
41	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$76,620	$47,280 – $140,630	+29.2%
42	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,160	$47,290 – $79,090	+27.7%
43	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,330	$62,910 – $129,920	+27.7%
44	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,520	$44,770 – $74,940	+27.6%
45	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$132,560	$69,240 – $175,200	+27.3%
46	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$64,660	$34,320 – $173,700	+27.1%
47	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,910	$35,090 – $89,960	+27.0%
48	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,490	$45,640 – $75,400	+26.8%
49	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,840	$38,130 – $60,620	+26.4%
50	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,910	$64,340 – $96,370	+25.6%

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