Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Stockton-Lodi, CA

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

Cost of living: prices in Stockton-Lodi, CA run 5.1% above the national average (2024), so a Stockton-Lodi, CA salary is worth about 0.95× 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 Stockton-Lodi, CA

OccupationMedian, Stockton-Lodi, CA · vs. national

1Psychiatric Technicians$95,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,130 – $105,080+111.8%
2Correctional Officers and Jailers$107,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,770 – $112,800+81.9%
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$128,480
Associate's degree
$77,820 – $174,390+60.4%
4Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$65,190
Bachelor's degree
$48,840 – $77,280+56.4%
5Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$59,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,290 – $78,130+53.7%
6Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$97,400
Bachelor's degree
$62,550 – $119,060+52.3%
7Public Safety Telecommunicators$80,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,410 – $98,290+52.1%
8Teachers and Instructors, All Other$99,820
Bachelor's degree
$48,180 – $131,130+50.9%
9Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$155,770
Master's degree
$60,680 – $191,970+47.1%
10Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$97,070
Bachelor's degree
$60,400 – $134,080+46.5%
11Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$105,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,120 – $133,350+42.3%
12Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$71,900
Bachelor's degree
$35,440 – $108,480+41.3%
13Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$100,590
Bachelor's degree
$62,380 – $125,630+39.6%
14Registered Nurses$134,580
Bachelor's degree
$101,390 – $212,700+38.0%
15Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$81,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,230 – $117,470+36.0%
16Construction and Building Inspectors$101,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,740 – $141,420+35.7%
17Healthcare Social Workers$91,820
Master's degree
$49,010 – $131,580+35.3%
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$100,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,140 – $102,770+35.2%
19Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$130,210
Associate's degree
$83,070 – $178,730+34.8%
20Cooks, Fast Food$41,600
No formal educational credential
$35,380 – $43,330+34.7%
21Firefighters$79,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,110 – $131,710+34.2%
22School Psychologists$128,630
Master's degree
$74,550 – $145,610+34.0%
23Fast Food and Counter Workers$41,740
No formal educational credential
$34,700 – $46,360+33.8%
24Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$138,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$106,350 – $169,040+33.5%
25Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$60,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $75,560+32.3%
26Dietetic Technicians$49,420
Associate's degree
$35,940 – $61,060+31.3%
27Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$99,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,980 – $130,850+31.1%
28Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$97,310
Bachelor's degree
$62,330 – $122,940+31.0%
29Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,980 – $82,050+29.9%
30Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$77,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,490 – $128,960+29.4%
31Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$129,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,040 – $185,490+29.1%
32Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$77,770
Master's degree
$52,100 – $126,900+29.0%
33Bus Drivers, School$61,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,620 – $72,620+28.5%
34Medical Equipment Preparers$61,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,030 – $85,260+28.0%
35Dental Hygienists$125,130
Associate's degree
$105,080 – $133,240+27.6%
36Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$82,030
Bachelor's degree
$64,060 – $118,090+27.4%
37Surgical Technologists$82,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,000 – $113,590+27.3%
38Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$61,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,560 – $74,550+26.1%
39First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$61,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,240 – $77,520+25.2%
40Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$102,850
Bachelor's degree
$62,250 – $143,590+25.1%
41Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$73,520
No formal educational credential
$48,740 – $102,720+24.8%
42Education Administrators, All Other$118,350
Bachelor's degree
$64,740 – $189,240+24.3%
43Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$62,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,930 – $81,510+24.1%
44Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$79,840
Master's degree
$47,000 – $127,810+24.1%
45Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$75,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,540 – $102,520+24.1%
46Respiratory Therapists$102,050
Associate's degree
$80,020 – $138,180+24.0%
47Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$45,550
Some college, no degree
$37,810 – $55,600+23.8%
48Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$77,370
Bachelor's degree
$60,480 – $108,750+23.4%
49Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$69,610
No formal educational credential
$45,200 – $107,130+23.3%
50Opticians, Dispensing$58,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,260 – $79,090+23.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianStockton-Lodi, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,580	$66,130 – $105,080	+111.8%
2	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,220	$69,770 – $112,800	+81.9%
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$128,480	$77,820 – $174,390	+60.4%
4	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$65,190	$48,840 – $77,280	+56.4%
5	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,360	$35,290 – $78,130	+53.7%
6	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$97,400	$62,550 – $119,060	+52.3%
7	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,690	$57,410 – $98,290	+52.1%
8	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$99,820	$48,180 – $131,130	+50.9%
9	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$155,770	$60,680 – $191,970	+47.1%
10	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$97,070	$60,400 – $134,080	+46.5%
11	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,800	$52,120 – $133,350	+42.3%
12	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$71,900	$35,440 – $108,480	+41.3%
13	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$100,590	$62,380 – $125,630	+39.6%
14	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$134,580	$101,390 – $212,700	+38.0%
15	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,600	$57,230 – $117,470	+36.0%
16	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,340	$63,740 – $141,420	+35.7%
17	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$91,820	$49,010 – $131,580	+35.3%
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,460	$63,140 – $102,770	+35.2%
19	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$130,210	$83,070 – $178,730	+34.8%
20	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$41,600	$35,380 – $43,330	+34.7%
21	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,540	$65,110 – $131,710	+34.2%
22	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$128,630	$74,550 – $145,610	+34.0%
23	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$41,740	$34,700 – $46,360	+33.8%
24	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,050	$106,350 – $169,040	+33.5%
25	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,760	$44,840 – $75,560	+32.3%
26	Dietetic TechniciansAssociate's degree	$49,420	$35,940 – $61,060	+31.3%
27	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,900	$77,980 – $130,850	+31.1%
28	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$97,310	$62,330 – $122,940	+31.0%
29	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$49,980 – $82,050	+29.9%
30	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,420	$49,490 – $128,960	+29.4%
31	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$129,860	$67,040 – $185,490	+29.1%
32	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$77,770	$52,100 – $126,900	+29.0%
33	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,570	$48,620 – $72,620	+28.5%
34	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,060	$45,030 – $85,260	+28.0%
35	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$125,130	$105,080 – $133,240	+27.6%
36	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$82,030	$64,060 – $118,090	+27.4%
37	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,300	$52,000 – $113,590	+27.3%
38	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,090	$42,560 – $74,550	+26.1%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,490	$39,240 – $77,520	+25.2%
40	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$102,850	$62,250 – $143,590	+25.1%
41	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$73,520	$48,740 – $102,720	+24.8%
42	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$118,350	$64,740 – $189,240	+24.3%
43	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,840	$35,930 – $81,510	+24.1%
44	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$79,840	$47,000 – $127,810	+24.1%
45	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,710	$47,540 – $102,520	+24.1%
46	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$102,050	$80,020 – $138,180	+24.0%
47	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$45,550	$37,810 – $55,600	+23.8%
48	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$77,370	$60,480 – $108,750	+23.4%
49	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential	$69,610	$45,200 – $107,130	+23.3%
50	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,250	$45,260 – $79,090	+23.3%

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