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Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Santa Cruz
Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying computer and engineering jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Jobs the BLS lists as "architecture and engineering occupations" or "computer and mathematical occupations" were considered. Keep reading to discover the highest paying computer and engineering jobs in your city.
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#22. Computer user support specialists
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $66,770
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,650
- Employment: 654,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($90,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,510)
- Annual mean salary: $66,770
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,650
- Employment: 654,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($90,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,510)
#21. Computer network support specialists
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $68,720
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,350
- Employment: 176,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,120)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($93,670)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,190)
- Annual mean salary: $68,720
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,350
- Employment: 176,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,120)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($93,670)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,190)
#20. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $69,120
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,000
- Employment: 64,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,190)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($83,250)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($81,340)
- Annual mean salary: $69,120
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,000
- Employment: 64,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,190)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($83,250)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($81,340)
#19. Architectural and civil drafters
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $70,250
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,620
- Employment: 101,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC ($76,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,700)
--- Anchorage, AK ($75,650)
- Annual mean salary: $70,250
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,620
- Employment: 101,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC ($76,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,700)
--- Anchorage, AK ($75,650)
#18. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $79,860
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,070
- Employment: 101,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fort Collins, CO ($91,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($90,780)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($88,600)
- Annual mean salary: $79,860
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,070
- Employment: 101,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fort Collins, CO ($91,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($90,780)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($88,600)
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#17. Architects, except landscape and naval
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $80,180
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,900
- Employment: 100,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($120,430)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($115,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,780)
- Annual mean salary: $80,180
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,900
- Employment: 100,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($120,430)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($115,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,780)
#16. Operations research analysts
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $89,490
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,830
- Employment: 98,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($164,730)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($127,330)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($118,710)
- Annual mean salary: $89,490
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,830
- Employment: 98,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($164,730)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($127,330)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($118,710)
#15. Web and digital interface designers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $91,820
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,460
- Employment: 82,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($144,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,760)
- Annual mean salary: $91,820
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,460
- Employment: 82,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($144,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,760)
#14. Network and computer systems administrators
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $92,220
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,250
- Employment: 316,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,370)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,930)
- Annual mean salary: $92,220
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,250
- Employment: 316,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,370)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,930)
#13. Computer systems analysts
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $101,800
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)
- Annual mean salary: $101,800
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)
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#12. Computer programmers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $102,640
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,650
- Employment: 152,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,220)
--- Dalton, GA ($123,500)
- Annual mean salary: $102,640
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,650
- Employment: 152,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,220)
--- Dalton, GA ($123,500)
#11. Database administrators
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $103,330
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,550
- Employment: 85,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($123,540)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,280)
- Annual mean salary: $103,330
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,550
- Employment: 85,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($123,540)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,280)
#10. Web developers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $106,230
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,320
- Employment: 84,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,430)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($111,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($110,880)
- Annual mean salary: $106,230
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,320
- Employment: 84,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,430)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($111,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($110,880)
#9. Environmental engineers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $107,150
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 42,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,470)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($127,160)
- Annual mean salary: $107,150
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 42,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,470)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($127,160)
#8. Civil engineers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $107,200
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)
- Annual mean salary: $107,200
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)
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#7. Mechanical engineers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $108,350
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)
- Annual mean salary: $108,350
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)
#6. Industrial engineers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $108,780
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)
- Annual mean salary: $108,780
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)
#5. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $111,130
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,710
- Employment: 190,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,360)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,640)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($122,750)
- Annual mean salary: $111,130
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,710
- Employment: 190,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,360)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,640)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($122,750)
#4. Electrical engineers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $114,920
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)
- Annual mean salary: $114,920
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)
#3. Electronics engineers, except computer
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $116,180
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)
- Annual mean salary: $116,180
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)
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#2. Data scientists
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $123,600
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,660
- Employment: 105,980
- 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)
- Annual mean salary: $123,600
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,660
- Employment: 105,980
- 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)
#1. Software developers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $134,680
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- 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)
- Annual mean salary: $134,680
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- 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)
