Highest paying jobs in Santa Cruz that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Santa Cruz that require a bachelor's degree
While college and university tuition costs may be skyrocketing, many still believe a bachelor’s degree is essential to landing a high-paying job in the United States. Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs that typically require a bachelors in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Whether highly technical, scientific, or based in finance or the arts, all the jobs require keeping up to date with the latest developments in culture, commerce, or tech.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor degree in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.
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#50. Training and development specialists
- Annual mean salary: $76,720
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,620
- Employment: 336,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($111,580)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,720)
--- Decatur, AL ($94,650)

#49. Cost estimators
- Annual mean salary: $76,880
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,740
- Employment: 208,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($104,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($99,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,550)

#48. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $77,080
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,880
- Employment: 592,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
--- Yuba City, CA ($94,480)
#47. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Annual mean salary: $78,180
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,180
- Employment: 127,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,990)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($89,220)

#46. Human resources specialists
- Annual mean salary: $79,260
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,720
- Employment: 740,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($95,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($91,400)
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#45. Fundraisers
- Annual mean salary: $79,330
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,870
- Employment: 82,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,070)
--- Salinas, CA ($83,760)
#44. Architects, except landscape and naval
- 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)
#43. Compliance officers
- Annual mean salary: $80,560
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,810
- Employment: 334,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($99,460)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($96,030)

#42. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
- Annual mean salary: $80,620
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,080
- Employment: 727,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,370)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,510)
#41. Logisticians
- Annual mean salary: $82,330
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,230
- Employment: 189,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($115,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,740)
--- Kokomo, IN ($101,310)
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#40. Chemists
- Annual mean salary: $82,990
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,130
- Employment: 80,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($131,290)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($115,790)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($108,330)

#39. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $84,720
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- Employment: 1,329,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,280)

#38. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $85,650
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 187,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($102,210)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
--- Chico, CA ($88,430)
#37. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $86,110
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,620
- Employment: 66,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,490)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($97,270)

#36. Management analysts
- Annual mean salary: $86,920
- #244 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,530
- Employment: 768,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($135,020)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($127,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,250)
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#35. Commercial and industrial designers
- Annual mean salary: $87,560
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,680
- Employment: 27,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($132,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,370)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($108,760)
#34. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Annual mean salary: $87,790
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,240
- Employment: 76,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($116,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($109,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,710)
#33. Operations research analysts
- 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)
#32. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Annual mean salary: $90,530
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,740
- Employment: 106,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($111,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,020)
#31. Conservation scientists
- Annual mean salary: $91,000
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,230
- Employment: 22,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($108,670)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($106,200)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($101,900)
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#30. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $91,610
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,530
- Employment: 1,020,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)

#29. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $91,910
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)
#28. Network and computer systems administrators
- 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)
#27. Accountants and auditors
- Annual mean salary: $94,110
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,980
- Employment: 1,318,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,830)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,540)

#26. Legislators
- Annual mean salary: $96,550
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,110
- Employment: 44,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yakima, WA ($139,690)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($136,400)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($132,460)
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#25. Computer systems analysts
- 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)
#24. Computer programmers
- 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)

#23. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- Annual mean salary: $104,700
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $103,550
- Employment: 23,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($161,290)
--- Corpus Christi, TX ($156,870)
--- Midland, TX ($156,270)
#22. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $106,910
- #203 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)
#21. Environmental engineers
- 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)
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#20. Civil engineers
- 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)
#19. Mechanical engineers
- 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)
#18. Industrial engineers
- 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)

#17. Producers and directors
- Annual mean salary: $111,490
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,950
- Employment: 138,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,610)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($128,810)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,990)
#16. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $112,820
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- 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)
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#15. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $114,680
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)
#14. Electrical engineers
- 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)

#13. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $115,330
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- 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)
#12. Electronics engineers, except computer
- 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)

#11. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- #254 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- 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)
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#10. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $131,270
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- 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)

#9. Software developers
- 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)
#8. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $139,590
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,750
- Employment: 3,047,530
- 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)

#7. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $140,500
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- 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)

#6. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $150,480
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- 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)
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#5. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $166,970
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- 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)
#4. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $170,310
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- 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)
#3. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $177,070
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- 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)
#2. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $179,040
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- 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)
#1. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $214,410
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- 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)
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