Highest-paying jobs in San Francisco
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, 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 San Francisco, the annual mean wage is $86,590 or 48.6% higher than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $377,980. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Information security analysts
- Annual mean salary: $149,250
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,270
- Employment: 157,220
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,250)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($135,080)
#49. Aerospace engineers
- Annual mean salary: $149,490
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,970
- Employment: 56,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($166,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,490)
--- Boulder, CO ($148,990)
#48. Fundraising managers
- Annual mean salary: $149,940
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570
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)

#47. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $150,250
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,970
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)
#46. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $151,640
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 41,160
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)
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#45. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $152,510
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 45,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)
#44. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $152,900
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,850
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#43. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $153,050
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
#42. Data scientists
- Annual mean salary: $153,180
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,290
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,660
- Employment: 105,980
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($135,900)
#41. Marine engineers and naval architects
- Annual mean salary: $153,630
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,820
- Employment: 7,380
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,630)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($126,010)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($109,390)
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#40. Public relations managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,630
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,820
National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)

#39. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,640
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,690
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#38. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $157,310
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,430
- Employment: 42,080
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,310)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($146,040)

#37. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $158,320
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 64,460
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)
#36. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $159,650
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
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)
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#35. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $159,660
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $94,000
- Employment: 16,050
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($169,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($159,660)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($131,960)
#34. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $161,010
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#33. Economists
- Annual mean salary: $161,320
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,830
- Employment: 15,640
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($162,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,320)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($156,360)

#32. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $161,620
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)

#31. Database architects
- Annual mean salary: $161,830
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,570
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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#30. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $161,960
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,310
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)
#29. Nurse midwives
- Annual mean salary: $162,800
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
#28. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $163,840
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,040
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)
#27. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $164,150
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,760
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)
#26. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $166,330
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
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)
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#25. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $166,410
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)
#24. Petroleum engineers
- Annual mean salary: $168,210
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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)
#23. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $170,740
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
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)

#22. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $172,470
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

#21. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $175,410
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,190
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)
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#20. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $177,160
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,550
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)
#19. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $181,700
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,250
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)

#18. Computer hardware engineers
- Annual mean salary: $185,210
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,880
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,230
- Employment: 73,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,320)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($161,580)
#17. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $185,290
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#16. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $185,920
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
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)
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#15. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $188,900
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 20,350
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)
#14. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $191,460
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,570
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)
#13. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $198,870
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,640
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)

#12. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Annual mean salary: $200,230
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
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)
#11. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $206,050
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,930
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)
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#10. Computer and information research scientists
- Annual mean salary: $209,890
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,410
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)
#9. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $211,470
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 25,690
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)
#8. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $216,750
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,100
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)
#7. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $228,130
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)

#6. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Annual mean salary: $243,380
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,070
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)
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#5. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $258,010
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,350
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)
#4. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $275,220
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,430
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. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $276,530
- #7 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)

#2. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $360,740
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
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)
#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $377,980
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $296,210
- Employment: 21,570
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($377,980)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($375,200)
--- Modesto, CA ($362,780)
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