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Highest-paying management jobs in Santa Cruz
Not everyone has what it takes to be a manager in today's workplace, and those who do tend to be well compensated.
Workers today are split on how they want to interact with their jobs. Half of workers want to blend their work and their personal lives, while the other roughly 50% prefer to keep them separate, according to Gallup polling. The lion's share want more flexibility in where they perform their work—at a time when businesses may have to buckle in for tougher economic conditions in the year ahead.
Whether overseeing a sales team or leading a commercial building project, these are the challenges that get management professionals out of bed in the morning.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-paying management 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 "management occupations" were included.
#22. Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $54,150
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,800
- Employment: 56,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($74,390)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($73,080)
--- Napa, CA ($70,330)
- Annual mean salary: $54,150
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,800
- Employment: 56,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($74,390)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($73,080)
--- Napa, CA ($70,330)
#21. Property, real estate, and community association managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $61,590
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)
- Annual mean salary: $61,590
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)
#20. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $62,640
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,810
- Employment: 17,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($108,680)
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($108,430)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($105,390)
- Annual mean salary: $62,640
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,810
- Employment: 17,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($108,680)
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($108,430)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($105,390)
#19. Food service managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- Employment: 210,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- Employment: 210,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)
#18. Legislators
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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)
#17. Administrative services managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $101,840
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)
- Annual mean salary: $101,840
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)
#16. Facilities managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $102,290
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)
- Annual mean salary: $102,290
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)
#15. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $106,660
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)
- Annual mean salary: $106,660
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)
#14. General and operations managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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)
#13. Construction managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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)
#12. Industrial production managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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)
#11. Sales managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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)
#10. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $120,600
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)
- Annual mean salary: $120,600
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)
#9. Public relations managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Annual mean salary: $126,990
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- 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)
- Annual mean salary: $126,990
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- 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)
#8. Medical and health services managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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)
#7. Human resources managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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)
#5. Marketing managers
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- 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)
- 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)
