Highest paying jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

The best paying occupations in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 8.8% above the national average (2024).

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025

#	Occupation	MedianSanta Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree	$333,300	$108,640 – $435,290	60
2	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$296,960	$131,340 – $434,360	280
3	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$287,230	$136,400 – $486,820	440
4	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$207,900	$131,330 – $266,750	340
5	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$207,760	$130,950 – $282,620	700
6	Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$202,030	$120,620 – $259,690	30
7	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$195,650	$77,990 – $427,380	360
8	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$175,400	$107,600 – $289,730	110
9	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$173,640	$71,400 – $315,550	70
10	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$171,880	$89,190 – $255,150	70
11	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$170,970	$73,920 – $289,030	700
12	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$170,940	$103,610 – $266,910	140
13	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$170,920	$94,330 – $299,310	340
14	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$167,090	$81,300 – $261,630	900
15	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$165,580	$130,450 – $220,680	200
16	Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree	$165,160	$94,550 – $274,000	210
17	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$164,270	$91,990 – $298,410	760
18	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$162,520	$130,670 – $208,880	290
19	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$161,440	$129,690 – $200,620	110
20	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$159,950	$101,370 – $183,290	360
21	Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$159,240	$104,170 – $205,310	40
22	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$158,840	$64,390 – $260,480	140
23	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$158,360	$90,310 – $204,280	210
24	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$158,290	$99,670 – $215,750	1,680
25	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$153,950	$77,320 – $359,180	150
26	Fundraising ManagersBachelor's degree	$153,940	$98,070 – $225,850	80
27	Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree	$153,010	$102,850 – $262,660	40
28	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$149,200	$73,190 – $270,020	60
29	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$148,440	$95,320 – $221,730	60
30	Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$145,530	$71,170 – $337,260	40
31	Sales EngineersBachelor's degree	$143,970	$80,830 – $214,760	40
32	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$142,560	$87,900 – $165,770	70
33	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$140,160	$102,940 – $165,740	50
34	Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree	$140,150	$92,190 – $211,780	40
35	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$137,360	$101,260 – $169,240	3,280
36	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$136,650	$81,660 – $198,080	460
37	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$135,990	$106,210 – $151,030	260
38	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$135,810	$82,910 – $206,400	160
39	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$134,640	$82,880 – $209,530	230
40	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$134,020	$80,070 – $183,740	40
41	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$132,910	$94,810 – $161,250	180
42	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$132,620	$82,600 – $213,850	290
43	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$132,490	$97,520 – $161,410	100
44	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$131,980	$81,650 – $243,220	100
45	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$130,870	$85,540 – $194,360	100
46	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$130,810	$74,810 – $174,030	40
47	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$130,770	$78,430 – $189,910	140
48	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,560	$78,270 – $207,160	290
49	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,290	$61,670 – $284,860	730
50	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$128,990	$99,280 – $197,050	130

Highest paying jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

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