Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Vallejo, CA

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

Cost of living: prices in Vallejo, CA run 8.5% above the national average (2024), so a Vallejo, 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 Vallejo, CA

OccupationMedian, Vallejo, CA · vs. national

1Registered Nurses$203,290
Bachelor's degree
$122,140 – $218,590+108.4%
2Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$122,930
Master's degree
$54,910 – $150,130+103.9%
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$160,380
Associate's degree
$103,130 – $175,430+100.2%
4Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$73,280
No formal educational credential
$38,410 – $85,360+97.1%
5Recreational Therapists$115,330
Bachelor's degree
$66,130 – $115,370+86.1%
6Pharmacy Aides$69,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,740 – $77,650+85.4%
7Healthcare Social Workers$122,450
Master's degree
$61,370 – $152,780+80.4%
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$171,170
Associate's degree
$67,360 – $205,490+77.2%
9Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$106,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,390 – $129,470+76.9%
10Medical Equipment Preparers$82,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,480 – $85,380+73.2%
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$129,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$97,600 – $163,550+70.5%
12Structural Iron and Steel Workers$106,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,140 – $142,550+70.3%
13Medical Assistants$77,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,150 – $77,800+69.4%
14Psychiatric Technicians$76,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,950 – $101,030+68.7%
15Opticians, Dispensing$78,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,760 – $86,220+66.8%
16Respiratory Therapists$136,200
Associate's degree
$97,980 – $157,560+65.5%
17First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$175,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$137,820 – $213,530+65.1%
18Public Safety Telecommunicators$87,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,790 – $100,690+64.5%
19Surveyors$123,590
Bachelor's degree
$70,390 – $159,220+63.8%
20Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$168,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$129,730 – $180,790+63.3%
21Surgical Technologists$105,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,580 – $126,210+62.8%
22Firefighters$95,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,160 – $134,370+61.9%
23Medical Records Specialists$82,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,550 – $82,750+60.8%
24Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$82,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,650 – $82,440+59.7%
25Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$95,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,880 – $135,570+58.9%
26Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$66,000
Bachelor's degree
$47,890 – $79,880+58.4%
27Crossing Guards and Flaggers$60,270
No formal educational credential
$38,000 – $79,780+58.2%
28Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$100,790
Bachelor's degree
$62,640 – $131,020+57.6%
29Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$123,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,790 – $145,950+56.7%
30Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$163,150
Master's degree
$104,910 – $198,110+54.1%
31Highway Maintenance Workers$76,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,210 – $95,840+52.2%
32Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$98,260
Bachelor's degree
$63,910 – $124,730+50.9%
33Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$68,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,470 – $81,750+49.9%
34Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$58,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,110 – $66,870+47.7%
35Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other$103,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,650 – $107,830+46.6%
36Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$91,640
Bachelor's degree
$60,320 – $130,890+46.2%
37Dietitians and Nutritionists$111,430
Bachelor's degree
$78,970 – $148,190+45.9%
38Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$93,680
Bachelor's degree
$60,390 – $129,310+45.5%
39Urban and Regional Planners$129,790
Master's degree
$82,360 – $164,970+45.3%
40Construction and Building Inspectors$108,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,400 – $154,670+44.8%
41Cooks, Fast Food$44,450
No formal educational credential
$36,950 – $55,520+43.9%
42Special Education Teachers, All Other$110,000
Bachelor's degree
$79,670 – $125,510+43.6%
43Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$143,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$70,860 – $177,540+42.8%
44Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$91,670
Master's degree
$50,950 – $132,500+42.5%
45First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$133,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$100,870 – $185,480+42.5%
46Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,590
Bachelor's degree
$65,340 – $132,960+42.4%
47Social Workers, All Other$102,160
Bachelor's degree
$56,470 – $153,130+42.1%
48Fast Food and Counter Workers$44,110
No formal educational credential
$35,760 – $49,330+41.4%
49Marriage and Family Therapists$93,810
Master's degree
$44,780 – $153,140+40.1%
50Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$75,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,860 – $75,900+39.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianVallejo, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$203,290	$122,140 – $218,590	+108.4%
2	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$122,930	$54,910 – $150,130	+103.9%
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$160,380	$103,130 – $175,430	+100.2%
4	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$73,280	$38,410 – $85,360	+97.1%
5	Recreational TherapistsBachelor's degree	$115,330	$66,130 – $115,370	+86.1%
6	Pharmacy AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,870	$35,740 – $77,650	+85.4%
7	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$122,450	$61,370 – $152,780	+80.4%
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$171,170	$67,360 – $205,490	+77.2%
9	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,150	$65,390 – $129,470	+76.9%
10	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,610	$43,480 – $85,380	+73.2%
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,900	$97,600 – $163,550	+70.5%
12	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,900	$61,140 – $142,550	+70.3%
13	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,410	$47,150 – $77,800	+69.4%
14	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,120	$50,950 – $101,030	+68.7%
15	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,830	$47,760 – $86,220	+66.8%
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$136,200	$97,980 – $157,560	+65.5%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$175,070	$137,820 – $213,530	+65.1%
18	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,250	$66,790 – $100,690	+64.5%
19	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$123,590	$70,390 – $159,220	+63.8%
20	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$168,860	$129,730 – $180,790	+63.3%
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,260	$64,580 – $126,210	+62.8%
22	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,950	$46,160 – $134,370	+61.9%
23	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,230	$46,550 – $82,750	+60.8%
24	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,440	$44,650 – $82,440	+59.7%
25	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,100	$59,880 – $135,570	+58.9%
26	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$66,000	$47,890 – $79,880	+58.4%
27	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$60,270	$38,000 – $79,780	+58.2%
28	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$100,790	$62,640 – $131,020	+57.6%
29	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,170	$77,790 – $145,950	+56.7%
30	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$163,150	$104,910 – $198,110	+54.1%
31	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,510	$57,210 – $95,840	+52.2%
32	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$98,260	$63,910 – $124,730	+50.9%
33	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,830	$44,470 – $81,750	+49.9%
34	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,170	$43,110 – $66,870	+47.7%
35	Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,650	$61,650 – $107,830	+46.6%
36	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$91,640	$60,320 – $130,890	+46.2%
37	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$111,430	$78,970 – $148,190	+45.9%
38	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$93,680	$60,390 – $129,310	+45.5%
39	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$129,790	$82,360 – $164,970	+45.3%
40	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,180	$59,400 – $154,670	+44.8%
41	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$44,450	$36,950 – $55,520	+43.9%
42	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$110,000	$79,670 – $125,510	+43.6%
43	Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$143,600	$70,860 – $177,540	+42.8%
44	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$91,670	$50,950 – $132,500	+42.5%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$133,280	$100,870 – $185,480	+42.5%
46	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,590	$65,340 – $132,960	+42.4%
47	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$102,160	$56,470 – $153,130	+42.1%
48	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$44,110	$35,760 – $49,330	+41.4%
49	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$93,810	$44,780 – $153,140	+40.1%
50	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,360	$58,860 – $75,900	+39.0%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Vallejo, CA

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