Jobs that pay the biggest premium in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Each occupation's median wage in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA run 11.9% above the national average (2024), so a San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA salary is worth about 0.89× 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

OccupationMedian, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · vs. national

1Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$166,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,490 – $350,710+97.2%
2English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$132,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,160 – $227,140+68.2%
3Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$115,160
Bachelor's degree
$78,240 – $211,540+55.1%
4Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$163,200
Master's degree
$102,670 – $201,970+54.2%
5Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$97,000
Bachelor's degree
$62,140 – $123,450+51.6%
6Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$97,860
Bachelor's degree
$60,130 – $121,140+50.3%
7Public Safety Telecommunicators$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,650 – $97,700+48.8%
8Crossing Guards and Flaggers$55,360
No formal educational credential
$41,780 – $87,950+45.3%
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$110,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,010 – $151,960+44.9%
10Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$59,860
Bachelor's degree
$38,990 – $78,590+43.7%
11Registered Nurses$139,520
Bachelor's degree
$102,480 – $175,210+43.0%
12Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,810
Bachelor's degree
$66,660 – $221,870+42.7%
13Medical Equipment Preparers$67,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $79,540+42.2%
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$113,480
Associate's degree
$65,440 – $149,390+41.7%
15Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$104,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,810 – $130,540+41.0%
16First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$148,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$129,070 – $203,540+39.9%
17Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$83,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,520 – $136,080+39.8%
18Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$69,300
No formal educational credential
$51,020 – $86,130+39.5%
19Library Assistants, Clerical$50,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,990 – $66,720+38.0%
20Cooks, Fast Food$42,450
No formal educational credential
$36,110 – $47,230+37.4%
21Instructional Coordinators$105,890
Master's degree
$59,390 – $160,180+36.7%
22School Psychologists$131,070
Master's degree
$79,820 – $153,010+36.5%
23Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,190
No formal educational credential
$35,510 – $47,200+35.2%
24Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$129,630
Associate's degree
$65,290 – $168,060+34.2%
25Computer Programmers$134,130
Bachelor's degree
$71,010 – $178,930+33.6%
26Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$68,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,030 – $74,910+33.2%
27Detectives and Criminal Investigators$124,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,790 – $167,110+33.1%
28Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$79,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,390 – $108,020+32.7%
29Construction and Building Inspectors$98,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,730 – $158,930+32.0%
30Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$101,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,510 – $175,520+31.1%
31Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$96,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,780 – $103,780+29.9%
32Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$83,520
Master's degree
$52,500 – $134,190+29.8%
33Sheet Metal Workers$80,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $126,540+29.6%
34Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$76,290
No formal educational credential
$48,410 – $114,110+29.5%
35Dietitians and Nutritionists$98,870
Bachelor's degree
$74,190 – $121,970+29.4%
36Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$106,100
Bachelor's degree
$66,120 – $148,470+29.0%
37Phlebotomists$58,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,730 – $75,360+28.6%
38Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$101,010
Master's degree
$52,860 – $210,340+28.5%
39Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$43,050
No formal educational credential
$35,280 – $59,410+28.2%
40Tax Preparers$70,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $99,120+27.8%
41Respiratory Therapists$105,040
Associate's degree
$82,140 – $131,440+27.7%
42Clergy$77,450
Bachelor's degree
$36,610 – $117,980+27.4%
43Surgical Technologists$82,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,300 – $101,430+27.2%
44Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$60,280
Associate's degree
$49,240 – $74,620+27.2%
45Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$64,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $86,660+27.1%
46Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$120,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,670 – $158,870+26.8%
47Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$130,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,730 – $166,920+26.7%
48Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$46,440
Some college, no degree
$36,540 – $56,870+26.3%
49Dental Hygienists$123,790
Associate's degree
$108,320 – $130,530+26.2%
50Bus Drivers, School$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,190 – $70,570+26.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianSan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$166,850	$82,490 – $350,710	+97.2%
2	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$132,500	$62,160 – $227,140	+68.2%
3	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$115,160	$78,240 – $211,540	+55.1%
4	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$163,200	$102,670 – $201,970	+54.2%
5	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$97,000	$62,140 – $123,450	+51.6%
6	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$97,860	$60,130 – $121,140	+50.3%
7	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$63,650 – $97,700	+48.8%
8	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$55,360	$41,780 – $87,950	+45.3%
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,400	$78,010 – $151,960	+44.9%
10	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$59,860	$38,990 – $78,590	+43.7%
11	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$139,520	$102,480 – $175,210	+43.0%
12	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,810	$66,660 – $221,870	+42.7%
13	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,830	$49,160 – $79,540	+42.2%
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$113,480	$65,440 – $149,390	+41.7%
15	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,840	$61,810 – $130,540	+41.0%
16	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$148,310	$129,070 – $203,540	+39.9%
17	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,670	$54,520 – $136,080	+39.8%
18	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$69,300	$51,020 – $86,130	+39.5%
19	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,940	$37,990 – $66,720	+38.0%
20	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$42,450	$36,110 – $47,230	+37.4%
21	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$105,890	$59,390 – $160,180	+36.7%
22	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$131,070	$79,820 – $153,010	+36.5%
23	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$42,190	$35,510 – $47,200	+35.2%
24	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$129,630	$65,290 – $168,060	+34.2%
25	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$134,130	$71,010 – $178,930	+33.6%
26	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,350	$50,030 – $74,910	+33.2%
27	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,840	$77,790 – $167,110	+33.1%
28	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,630	$61,390 – $108,020	+32.7%
29	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,580	$58,730 – $158,930	+32.0%
30	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$101,820	$53,510 – $175,520	+31.1%
31	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,580	$58,780 – $103,780	+29.9%
32	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$83,520	$52,500 – $134,190	+29.8%
33	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,080	$47,440 – $126,540	+29.6%
34	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$76,290	$48,410 – $114,110	+29.5%
35	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$98,870	$74,190 – $121,970	+29.4%
36	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$106,100	$66,120 – $148,470	+29.0%
37	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,170	$43,730 – $75,360	+28.6%
38	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$101,010	$52,860 – $210,340	+28.5%
39	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$43,050	$35,280 – $59,410	+28.2%
40	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,170	$38,700 – $99,120	+27.8%
41	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$105,040	$82,140 – $131,440	+27.7%
42	ClergyBachelor's degree	$77,450	$36,610 – $117,980	+27.4%
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,260	$62,300 – $101,430	+27.2%
44	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,280	$49,240 – $74,620	+27.2%
45	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,320	$38,830 – $86,660	+27.1%
46	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,870	$65,670 – $158,870	+26.8%
47	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$130,980	$78,730 – $166,920	+26.7%
48	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$46,440	$36,540 – $56,870	+26.3%
49	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$123,790	$108,320 – $130,530	+26.2%
50	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$48,190 – $70,570	+26.1%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

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