Highest-paying jobs in Santa Cruz for high school graduates

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#50. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $60,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $60,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 170 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $60,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $60,550
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 340 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $61,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.47
- Total employment: 110 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Tree trimmers and pruners

- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 110 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 140 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 210 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $62,520
- Median hourly wage: $30.06
- Total employment: 120 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $63,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 140 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Personal service managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $63,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: Not available

#38. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $63,680
- Median hourly wage: $30.62
- Total employment: 520 people (5.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $63,760
- Median hourly wage: $30.65
- Total employment: 110 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $64,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. 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)

#34. 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)

#33. 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)

#32. 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)

#31. 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)

#30. 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)

#29. 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)

#28. 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)

#27. 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)

#26. 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)

#25. 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)

#24. 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)

#23. 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)

#22. 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)

#21. 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)

#20. 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)

#19. 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)

#18. 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)

#17. 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)

#16. 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)

#15. 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)

#14. 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)

#13. 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)

#12. 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)

#11. 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)

#10. 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)

#9. 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)

#8. 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)

#7. 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)

#6. 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)

#5. 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)

#4. 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)

#3. 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)

#2. 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)

#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 Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock