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Highest paying jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

The best paying occupations in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Cost of living: prices here run 11.9% above the national average (2024).

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025

#OccupationMedianSan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darkerEmployed
1CardiologistsDoctoral or professional degree$493,670$145,620 – $496,110—
2PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree$335,620$156,960 – $439,510310
3Physicians, PathologistsDoctoral or professional degree$333,330$119,370 – $388,51090
4Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree$323,050$123,770 – $391,4404,200
5Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree$321,950$166,420 – $388,790340
6Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree$295,530$149,290 – $493,9801,360
7Obstetricians and GynecologistsDoctoral or professional degree$293,400$87,260 – $405,070100
8General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree$282,200$87,260 – $444,920—
9Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree$262,650$158,110 – $358,320630
10Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree$238,440$85,510 – $493,4802,710
11PodiatristsDoctoral or professional degree$235,390$133,690 – $367,09060
12DermatologistsDoctoral or professional degree$233,370$63,630 – $558,920—
13Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree$207,200$132,560 – $319,2602,890
14Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree$206,740$127,840 – $304,5307,250
15Orthopedic Surgeons, Except PediatricDoctoral or professional degree$204,290$80,810 – $457,890230
16Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree$202,810$134,660 – $283,1303,270
17Nurse MidwivesMaster's degree$181,450$101,920 – $237,27060
18LawyersDoctoral or professional degree$178,220$104,140 – $336,5908,020
19Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree$174,840$99,510 – $305,7403,790
20Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree$174,440$122,910 – $227,9403,330
21Financial ManagersBachelor's degree$174,210$100,950 – $326,9307,350
22Power Distributors and DispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent$173,120$79,790 – $176,780100
23Radiation TherapistsAssociate's degree$171,500$132,470 – $191,180140
24Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree$169,240$98,390 – $276,3109,370
25Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree$168,410$79,700 – $260,440150
26Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree$166,850$82,490 – $350,710570
27Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree$166,550$61,200 – $308,670300
28Physician AssistantsMaster's degree$165,160$109,750 – $214,5701,370
29PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree$165,130$131,400 – $214,4802,840
30Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree$163,860$131,380 – $215,6402,340
31Software DevelopersBachelor's degree$163,270$95,420 – $223,26020,610
32Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree$163,200$102,670 – $201,9702,370
33Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree$163,190$97,050 – $282,4002,300
34Nuclear Medicine TechnologistsAssociate's degree$162,380$122,780 – $168,450110
35Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree$160,970$97,870 – $229,260240
36VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree$159,750$67,540 – $276,2301,080
37Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree$158,620$99,470 – $226,910680
38Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree$158,160$90,600 – $259,3201,710
39Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree$157,700$86,240 – $212,0501,490
40Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree$157,630$84,530 – $277,700650
41Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree$156,800$89,150 – $205,610390
42Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree$156,480$101,120 – $217,6203,450
43PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree$156,480$84,450 – $219,080290
44MathematiciansMaster's degree$156,480$101,230 – $195,19040
45Physics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree$152,190$96,240 – $292,150120
46Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree$148,860$95,840 – $310,270630
47Psychologists, All OtherMaster's degree$148,820$59,650 – $182,440250
48First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent$148,310$129,070 – $203,540960
49Sociology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree$141,950$75,820 – $233,850110
50Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree$140,700$69,880 – $260,44080

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