Highest paying jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

The best paying occupations in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 9.9% above the national average (2024).

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025

#	Occupation	MedianSanta Cruz-Watsonville, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$430,970	$105,090 – $457,570	—
2	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$305,610	$86,680 – $454,440	190
3	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$291,880	$165,990 – $446,730	—
4	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$209,080	$90,040 – $442,310	220
5	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$206,880	$127,890 – $283,380	80
6	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$202,380	$125,550 – $303,550	80
7	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$198,770	$126,980 – $306,260	260
8	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$182,840	$91,950 – $307,330	30
9	Fundraising ManagersBachelor's degree	$179,130	$93,990 – $286,510	30
10	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$175,950	$106,520 – $225,460	90
11	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$172,590	$125,410 – $198,920	70
12	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$172,410	$109,620 – $286,700	50
13	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$170,960	$97,980 – $210,870	1,750
14	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$170,650	$86,110 – $268,950	350
15	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$169,370	$89,080 – $214,600	80
16	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$168,980	$83,540 – $292,680	150
17	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$167,190	$126,540 – $218,680	190
18	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$165,800	$97,410 – $312,850	400
19	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$164,820	$68,430 – $298,830	130
20	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$164,790	$59,990 – $315,190	350
21	Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree	$164,570	$85,150 – $272,610	130
22	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$161,940	$131,330 – $220,760	170
23	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$159,030	$126,690 – $208,760	120
24	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$157,630	$83,100 – $197,630	230
25	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$156,910	$92,520 – $209,260	540
26	Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree	$150,820	$100,180 – $212,680	40
27	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$142,150	$87,190 – $175,320	40
28	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$141,150	$100,260 – $207,370	150
29	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$138,640	$76,570 – $237,750	460
30	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$136,120	$98,590 – $195,190	50
31	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$134,880	$100,040 – $161,250	70
32	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$134,060	$79,320 – $200,290	150
33	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$133,970	$75,100 – $175,960	100
34	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$133,890	$74,320 – $204,740	120
35	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$133,560	$103,910 – $203,820	90
36	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$132,920	$94,180 – $211,260	190
37	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$132,850	$85,920 – $166,430	90
38	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$131,740	$84,710 – $172,180	120
39	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$131,520	$59,990 – $260,220	50
40	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$130,980	$75,070 – $211,050	80
41	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$130,600	$106,880 – $145,600	220
42	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$130,420	$97,900 – $157,390	100
43	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$130,270	$77,020 – $208,760	30
44	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$129,920	$62,650 – $164,890	110
45	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$128,730	$85,080 – $174,870	150
46	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$128,320	$79,900 – $194,410	40
47	Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree	$128,280	$77,180 – $214,720	40
48	Art DirectorsBachelor's degree	$126,410	$91,510 – $243,160	40
49	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$124,790	$91,980 – $158,340	160
50	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$124,450	$81,960 – $164,660	490

Highest paying jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

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