GaudiLab // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Riverside
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Riverside. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $132,570
- Median hourly wage: $63.73
- Total employment: 540 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $133,080
- Median hourly wage: $63.98
- Total employment: 340 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 700 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 370 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Lucky Business // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $134,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $134,630
- Median hourly wage: $64.73
- Total employment: 3,950 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
My Ocean Production // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $134,880
- Median hourly wage: $64.85
- Total employment: 160 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $134,990
- Median hourly wage: $64.90
- Total employment: 1,440 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $135,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $136,760
- Median hourly wage: $65.75
- Total employment: 4,340 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $140,650
- Median hourly wage: $67.62
- Total employment: 1,980 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $143,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $144,040
- Median hourly wage: $69.25
- Total employment: 4,430 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Library science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $145,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $146,060
- Median hourly wage: $70.22
- Total employment: 120 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $150,490
- Median hourly wage: $72.35
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $158,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 400 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $158,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $158,710
- Median hourly wage: $76.30
- Total employment: 660 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $159,820
- Median hourly wage: $76.84
- Total employment: 1,260 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $159,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 320 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $160,370
- Median hourly wage: $77.10
- Total employment: 250 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $160,640
- Median hourly wage: $77.23
- Total employment: 3,800 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $160,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,430 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $161,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $161,790
- Median hourly wage: $77.78
- Total employment: 1,280 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $162,470
- Median hourly wage: $78.11
- Total employment: 1,630 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $162,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $164,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $164,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $165,760
- Median hourly wage: $79.69
- Total employment: 2,510 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $166,730
- Median hourly wage: $80.16
- Total employment: 1,160 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $168,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 450 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $170,180
- Median hourly wage: $81.82
- Total employment: 1,190 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $172,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $173,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $178,040
- Median hourly wage: $85.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $181,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $185,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $186,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $197,190
- Median hourly wage: $94.81
- Total employment: 2,070 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $201,870
- Median hourly wage: $97.05
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $203,180
- Median hourly wage: $97.69
- Total employment: Not available
Diego Cervo // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $214,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $234,800
- Median hourly wage: $112.89
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 470 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 260 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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