Highest-paying jobs in Sacramento
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In Sacramento, the annual mean wage is $65,580 or 12.6% higher than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $271,150. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $129,520
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)
#49. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $130,670
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)

#48. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $130,690
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)

#47. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $132,020
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#46. Database architects
- Annual mean salary: $132,610
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)
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#45. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $133,910
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)
#44. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $135,080
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,850
- Employment: 17,140
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($149,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($148,240)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($135,080)
#43. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $135,490
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 21,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,750
- Employment: 3,047,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($155,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($151,640)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($146,360)
#42. Fundraising managers
- Annual mean salary: $136,140
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,400
- Employment: 23,190
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($175,610)
--- Syracuse, NY ($155,700)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($153,980)

#41. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $136,600
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)
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#40. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $137,680
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,610
- Employment: 37,600
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)

#39. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $137,810
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- Employment: 14,060
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($155,350)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($150,290)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($140,340)
#38. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $138,280
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)
#37. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $139,060
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,230
- Employment: 2,730
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,890)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($140,800)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($139,060)

#36. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $141,090
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)
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#35. Financial risk specialists
- Annual mean salary: $141,590
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $110,610
- Employment: 54,320
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($146,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($141,890)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($141,590)
#34. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $143,790
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#33. Physicists
- Annual mean salary: $145,630
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $151,580
- Employment: 20,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($199,830)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($195,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($188,250)
#32. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $145,930
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,150
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#31. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $148,140
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,480
- Employment: 12,460
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)
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#30. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Annual mean salary: $148,800
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,160
- Employment: 13,840
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($151,900)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,800)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($141,070)

#29. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $149,590
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)

#28. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $149,610
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,870
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

#27. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Annual mean salary: $150,970
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,450
- Employment: 7,370
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($152,290)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($150,970)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($149,070)
#26. Nurse midwives
- Annual mean salary: $150,990
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $114,210
- Employment: 7,750
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston, WV ($169,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($162,800)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,570)
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#25. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $152,120
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,840
- Employment: 10,250
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)

#24. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $152,140
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,710
- Employment: 47,690
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)
#23. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $152,210
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#22. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $153,050
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)
#21. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $153,400
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)
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#20. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $154,010
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)

#19. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $154,130
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,590
- Employment: 35,440
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)
#18. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $157,540
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)
#17. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $159,960
- #258 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,660
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#16. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $163,400
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,800
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)
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#15. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $165,400
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
#14. Petroleum engineers
- Annual mean salary: $166,540
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $145,720
- Employment: 22,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,700)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($175,590)
--- Anchorage, AK ($169,650)
#13. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $169,820
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,890
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)

#12. Computer and information research scientists
- Annual mean salary: $178,230
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,650
- Employment: 30,840
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($209,890)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($202,020)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($183,750)

#11. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $180,550
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)
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#10. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $183,250
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)

#9. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Annual mean salary: $191,740
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,190
- Employment: 81,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($255,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,380)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($242,540)
#8. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $193,530
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,380
- Employment: 8,840
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($231,930)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($219,920)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($205,040)
#7. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $201,080
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)

#6. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Annual mean salary: $225,610
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,520
- Employment: 27,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($225,610)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($208,310)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($200,980)
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#5. Physicians, pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $225,640
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,180
- Employment: 11,010
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($351,450)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($344,900)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($341,360)
#4. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $232,950
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)

#3. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $241,900
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)
#2. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $267,790
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)
#1. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $271,150
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $242,190
- Employment: 58,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($359,200)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($350,330)
--- Sumter, SC ($334,810)
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