Jobs that pay the biggest premium in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR

Each occupation's median wage in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR 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 Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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

Find high paying jobs in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR

OccupationMedian, San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR · vs. national

1Rehabilitation Counselors$53,180
Master's degree
$30,890 – $64,320+13.5%
2Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$47,860
Bachelor's degree
$30,530 – $64,330+11.5%
3Industrial Production Managers$130,690
Bachelor's degree
$62,140 – $208,340+3.7%
4Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$86,740
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,270 – $106,770+2.5%
5School Psychologists$97,210
Master's degree
$75,160 – $97,740+1.3%
6Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$61,760
Bachelor's degree
$51,280 – $74,830-1.5%
7Optometrists$132,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$44,190 – $300,250-2.8%
8Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$101,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,160 – $130,150-5.4%
9Transportation Security Screeners$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,660 – $67,200-5.5%
10Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$49,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,050 – $62,690-7.9%
11Farm and Home Management Educators$53,620
Master's degree
$48,760 – $72,280-11.0%
12Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$57,520
Bachelor's degree
$50,540 – $61,060-11.7%
13Tax Preparers$47,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,830 – $100,170-13.3%
14Biological Technicians$49,230
Bachelor's degree
$29,370 – $64,190-14.4%
15Special Education Teachers, Middle School$57,040
Bachelor's degree
$50,490 – $62,270-14.6%
16Chemists$77,380
Bachelor's degree
$43,810 – $135,550-15.2%
17Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$32,120
Associate's degree
$22,580 – $44,580-15.8%
18Teachers and Instructors, All Other$54,760
Bachelor's degree
$30,940 – $75,240-17.2%
19Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,520 – $99,540-17.5%
20Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$52,860
Master's degree
$29,950 – $77,330-17.8%
21Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$58,400
Bachelor's degree
$39,180 – $73,770-18.9%
22Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$86,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,230 – $160,860-19.0%
23Pharmacists$113,420
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,760 – $127,610-19.5%
24Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians$31,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,150 – $35,120-19.7%
25Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$51,300
Bachelor's degree
$30,240 – $74,220-19.8%
26Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$51,430
Bachelor's degree
$39,770 – $64,060-20.1%
27Industrial Engineers$81,080
Bachelor's degree
$55,290 – $129,260-20.9%
28Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$52,450
Bachelor's degree
$49,190 – $63,220-20.9%
29Engineers, All Other$95,990
Bachelor's degree
$37,920 – $136,930-21.9%
30Animal Caretakers$27,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,990 – $31,200-21.9%
31Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$36,090
No formal educational credential
$22,240 – $72,790-22.3%
32Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$60,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,690 – $99,630-22.3%
33Social and Community Service Managers$62,390
Bachelor's degree
$37,530 – $107,990-22.4%
34Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$57,460
Bachelor's degree
$50,620 – $60,880-22.6%
35Pharmacy Aides$29,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,030 – $35,810-22.6%
36Architectural and Engineering Managers$132,180
Bachelor's degree
$85,310 – $212,760-22.8%
37Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$37,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,470 – $84,360-23.6%
38Self-Enrichment Teachers$35,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $62,000-23.7%
39Tour and Travel Guides$28,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,550 – $47,050-24.5%
40Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$51,400
Master's degree
$29,690 – $74,420-24.7%
41Dental Assistants$36,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,390 – $57,200-24.8%
42Biological Scientists, All Other$73,920
Bachelor's degree
$40,900 – $109,300-25.3%
43Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$78,620
Master's degree
$50,810 – $96,800-25.7%
44Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$59,270
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,520 – $102,790-26.1%
45Cooks, Fast Food$22,680
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $29,360-26.6%
46Education Administrators, Postsecondary$76,680
Master's degree
$40,890 – $126,280-26.7%
47Community Health Workers$38,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,900 – $51,080-26.7%
48Loan Interviewers and Clerks$36,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,300 – $44,020-27.1%
49Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$22,520
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $24,960-27.8%
50Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$31,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,130 – $46,650-28.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianSan Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$53,180	$30,890 – $64,320	+13.5%
2	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$47,860	$30,530 – $64,330	+11.5%
3	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,690	$62,140 – $208,340	+3.7%
4	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$86,740	$52,270 – $106,770	+2.5%
5	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$97,210	$75,160 – $97,740	+1.3%
6	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$61,760	$51,280 – $74,830	-1.5%
7	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$132,790	$44,190 – $300,250	-2.8%
8	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,530	$47,160 – $130,150	-5.4%
9	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$24,660 – $67,200	-5.5%
10	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,940	$28,050 – $62,690	-7.9%
11	Farm and Home Management EducatorsMaster's degree	$53,620	$48,760 – $72,280	-11.0%
12	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$57,520	$50,540 – $61,060	-11.7%
13	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,590	$29,830 – $100,170	-13.3%
14	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$49,230	$29,370 – $64,190	-14.4%
15	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$57,040	$50,490 – $62,270	-14.6%
16	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$77,380	$43,810 – $135,550	-15.2%
17	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$32,120	$22,580 – $44,580	-15.8%
18	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$54,760	$30,940 – $75,240	-17.2%
19	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,680	$55,520 – $99,540	-17.5%
20	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$52,860	$29,950 – $77,330	-17.8%
21	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$58,400	$39,180 – $73,770	-18.9%
22	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,900	$48,230 – $160,860	-19.0%
23	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$113,420	$61,760 – $127,610	-19.5%
24	Ophthalmic Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,670	$23,150 – $35,120	-19.7%
25	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$51,300	$30,240 – $74,220	-19.8%
26	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$51,430	$39,770 – $64,060	-20.1%
27	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$81,080	$55,290 – $129,260	-20.9%
28	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$52,450	$49,190 – $63,220	-20.9%
29	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$95,990	$37,920 – $136,930	-21.9%
30	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,600	$21,990 – $31,200	-21.9%
31	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$36,090	$22,240 – $72,790	-22.3%
32	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$60,310	$46,690 – $99,630	-22.3%
33	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$62,390	$37,530 – $107,990	-22.4%
34	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$57,460	$50,620 – $60,880	-22.6%
35	Pharmacy AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$29,180	$22,030 – $35,810	-22.6%
36	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$132,180	$85,310 – $212,760	-22.8%
37	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,120	$23,470 – $84,360	-23.6%
38	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,710	$21,840 – $62,000	-23.7%
39	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,790	$22,550 – $47,050	-24.5%
40	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$51,400	$29,690 – $74,420	-24.7%
41	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,130	$24,390 – $57,200	-24.8%
42	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$73,920	$40,900 – $109,300	-25.3%
43	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$78,620	$50,810 – $96,800	-25.7%
44	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$59,270	$45,520 – $102,790	-26.1%
45	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$22,680	$21,840 – $29,360	-26.6%
46	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$76,680	$40,890 – $126,280	-26.7%
47	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,020	$21,900 – $51,080	-26.7%
48	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,450	$28,300 – $44,020	-27.1%
49	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$22,520	$21,840 – $24,960	-27.8%
50	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,130	$22,130 – $46,650	-28.0%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR

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