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

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#50. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $72,220
- Median hourly wage: $34.72
- Total employment: 390 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $74,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.99
- Total employment: 300 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $74,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.00
- Total employment: 260 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $75,490
- Median hourly wage: $36.29
- Total employment: 120 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,780
- Median hourly wage: $36.43
- Total employment: 560 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Legal support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $76,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $76,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.85
- Total employment: 740 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $76,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Total employment: 450 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Mechanical drafters

- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $77,520
- Median hourly wage: $37.27
- Total employment: 190 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Paralegals and legal assistants

- Median annual wage: $77,990
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 400 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $78,260
- Median hourly wage: $37.62
- Total employment: 950 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 130 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $78,930
- Median hourly wage: $37.95
- Total employment: 90 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $79,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.18
- Total employment: 420 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,370
- Median hourly wage: $38.64
- Total employment: 130 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Computer network support specialists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $80,430
- Median hourly wage: $38.67
- Total employment: 130 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door (tie)

- Median annual wage: $80,430
- Median hourly wage: $38.67
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $80,500
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 70 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $80,520
- Median hourly wage: $38.71
- Total employment: 110 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Occupational therapy assistants

- Median annual wage: $80,700
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $80,810
- Median hourly wage: $38.85
- Total employment: 100 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $82,220
- Median hourly wage: $39.53
- Total employment: 510 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Physical therapist assistants

- Median annual wage: $82,430
- Median hourly wage: $39.63
- Total employment: 70 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $82,990
- Median hourly wage: $39.90
- Total employment: 90 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $83,260
- Median hourly wage: $40.03
- Total employment: 260 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Health information technologists and medical registrars

- Median annual wage: $83,940
- Median hourly wage: $40.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $83,980
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 550 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,530
- Median hourly wage: $40.64
- Total employment: 120 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $85,870
- Median hourly wage: $41.28
- Total employment: 80 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Civil engineering technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $87,350
- Median hourly wage: $42.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $89,030
- Median hourly wage: $42.81
- Total employment: 350 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $90,050
- Median hourly wage: $43.30
- Total employment: 750 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $90,690
- Median hourly wage: $43.60
- Total employment: 90 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $95,930
- Median hourly wage: $46.12
- Total employment: 90 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $98,640
- Median hourly wage: $47.43
- Total employment: 60 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $100,750
- Median hourly wage: $48.44
- Total employment: 220 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Respiratory therapists

- Median annual wage: $104,890
- Median hourly wage: $50.43
- Total employment: 100 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $106,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Radiologic technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $106,990
- Median hourly wage: $51.44
- Total employment: 260 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $109,070
- Median hourly wage: $52.44
- Total employment: 220 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $119,580
- Median hourly wage: $57.49
- Total employment: 720 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $123,380
- Median hourly wage: $59.32
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $129,370
- Median hourly wage: $62.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Dental hygienists

- Median annual wage: $132,010
- Median hourly wage: $63.47
- Total employment: 280 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $133,600
- Median hourly wage: $64.23
- Total employment: 160 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $136,850
- Median hourly wage: $65.79
- Total employment: 70 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Diagnostic medical sonographers

- Median annual wage: $140,980
- Median hourly wage: $67.78
- Total employment: 90 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $157,520
- Median hourly wage: $75.73
- Total employment: 110 people (0.57 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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