Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Santa Cruz

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#50. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $64,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $64,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 150 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $65,100
- Median hourly wage: $31.30
- Total employment: 260 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $66,170
- Median hourly wage: $31.81
- Total employment: 360 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Plasterers and stucco masons

- Median annual wage: $66,250
- Median hourly wage: $31.85
- Total employment: 90 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Solar photovoltaic installers

- Median annual wage: $67,440
- Median hourly wage: $32.42
- Total employment: 70 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $69,350
- Median hourly wage: $33.34
- Total employment: 340 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $70,150
- Median hourly wage: $33.72
- Total employment: 110 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $70,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.98
- Total employment: 320 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $71,110
- Median hourly wage: $34.19
- Total employment: 90 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $71,150
- Median hourly wage: $34.21
- Total employment: 80 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $72,270
- Median hourly wage: $34.75
- Total employment: 110 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $72,740
- Median hourly wage: $34.97
- Total employment: 610 people (6.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $73,360
- Median hourly wage: $35.27
- Total employment: 120 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $73,410
- Median hourly wage: $35.29
- Total employment: 210 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $74,130
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 360 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $74,430
- Median hourly wage: $35.78
- Total employment: 190 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $74,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 940 people (9.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $76,140
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 210 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $76,430
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $76,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.99
- Total employment: 350 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $77,260
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 820 people (8.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,560
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $77,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.34
- Total employment: 350 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $79,110
- Median hourly wage: $38.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $79,290
- Median hourly wage: $38.12
- Total employment: 280 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $79,580
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 350 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $79,720
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 110 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Medical equipment preparers

- Median annual wage: $79,820
- Median hourly wage: $38.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $80,240
- Median hourly wage: $38.58
- Total employment: 190 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Computer network support specialists

- Median annual wage: $80,490
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $80,870
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: 190 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $81,910
- Median hourly wage: $39.38
- Total employment: 120 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $83,820
- Median hourly wage: $40.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $85,790
- Median hourly wage: $41.24
- Total employment: 90 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $86,630
- Median hourly wage: $41.65
- Total employment: 390 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $88,010
- Median hourly wage: $42.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $88,740
- Median hourly wage: $42.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

- Median annual wage: $96,980
- Median hourly wage: $46.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $99,600
- Median hourly wage: $47.89
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $102,000
- Median hourly wage: $49.04
- Total employment: 60 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $107,060
- Median hourly wage: $51.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $108,500
- Median hourly wage: $52.16
- Total employment: 110 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $123,140
- Median hourly wage: $59.20
- Total employment: 450 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $124,370
- Median hourly wage: $59.80
- Total employment: 120 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $127,120
- Median hourly wage: $61.11
- Total employment: 170 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $144,520
- Median hourly wage: $69.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $151,980
- Median hourly wage: $73.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $158,430
- Median hourly wage: $76.17
- Total employment: 80 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 363 metros.

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