Highest-paying jobs in Santa Maria
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Maria, the annual mean wage is $62,020 or 6.5% higher than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $298,320. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Database administrators
- Annual mean salary: $108,890
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,550
- Employment: 85,870
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($123,540)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,280)
#48 (tie). Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $109,570
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- 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)
#48 (tie). Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $109,570
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)
#47. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $110,910
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,920
- Employment: 225,350
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,370)
--- Midland, TX ($116,880)

#46. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $111,190
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- 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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#45. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $115,660
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#44. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $115,910
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#43. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $117,700
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)
#42. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $118,090
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,090
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)
#41. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $118,220
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
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#40. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $118,370
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#39. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $119,200
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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. Fundraising managers
- Annual mean salary: $121,950
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#37. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $122,260
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- Employment: 107,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)
#36. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $122,380
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- 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)
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#35. Data scientists
- Annual mean salary: $122,640
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#34. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $122,770
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,700
- Employment: 22,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($127,700)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,690)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,770)
#33. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $123,420
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
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)
#32. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Annual mean salary: $124,170
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- 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)
#31. Public relations managers
- Annual mean salary: $124,310
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
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#30. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $125,540
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#29. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $125,750
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,360
- Employment: 207,190
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($125,750)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,320)

#28. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $126,150
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,760
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)

#27. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $126,420
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
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)

#26. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $127,990
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)
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#25. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $128,000
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
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)

#24. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $128,160
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,630
- Employment: 59,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($169,330)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($158,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($158,320)

#23. Database architects
- Annual mean salary: $128,940
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)

#22. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $130,060
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
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. Aerospace engineers
- Annual mean salary: $130,310
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
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#20. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $131,420
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)

#19. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $131,800
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#18. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $131,810
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)

#17. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $133,060
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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)

#16. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $136,980
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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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#15. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $139,590
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#14. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $150,730
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)
#13. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $151,690
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $152,450
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
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)
#11. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $153,410
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
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)
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#10. Computer hardware engineers
- Annual mean salary: $154,610
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $164,600
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#8. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $170,680
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
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)
#7. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $171,360
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720
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)

#6. Computer and information research scientists
- Annual mean salary: $183,750
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
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#5. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $210,330
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)
#4. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $217,800
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
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)
#3. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $251,620
- #71 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)
#2. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $269,030
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#1. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $298,320
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
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