Data vintage · May 2025 · Ranked by median annual wage
Lowest-paying jobs in Santa Cruz
328 occupations with published wages, ranked
The lowest published median wage in Santa Cruz belongs to Home Health and Personal Care Aides, at $34,320 per year. The highest is $430,970.
The 10 lowest-paying occupations
| # | Occupation | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | 4,470 | |
| 2 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,640 | 490 | |
| 3 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $35,860 | 50 | |
| 4 | Waiters and Waitresses | $35,930 | 1,640 | |
| 5 | Material Moving Workers, All Other | $35,960 | 50 | |
| 6 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,050 | 280 | |
| 7 | Bartenders | $36,100 | 560 | |
| 8 | Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $36,450 | 470 | |
| 9 | Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,510 | 390 | |
| 10 | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $37,150 | 660 |
At the other end of the scale
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $430,970 | — |
| Physicians, All Other | $305,610 | 190 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $291,880 | — |
| Chief Executives | $209,080 | 220 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $206,880 | 80 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $202,380 | 80 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $198,770 | 260 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $182,840 | 30 |
| Fundraising Managers | $179,130 | 30 |
| Dentists, General | $175,950 | 90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $172,590 | 70 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $172,410 | 50 |
| Registered Nurses | $170,960 | 1,750 |
| Managers, All Other | $170,650 | 350 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $169,370 | 80 |
| Marketing Managers | $168,980 | 150 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $167,190 | 190 |
| Financial Managers | $165,800 | 400 |
| Veterinarians | $164,820 | 130 |
| Lawyers | $164,790 | 350 |
| Human Resources Managers | $164,570 | 130 |
| Pharmacists | $161,940 | 170 |
| Physician Assistants | $159,030 | 120 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $157,630 | 230 |
| Software Developers | $156,910 | 540 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Rankings cover only occupations for which a median wage was published; occupations the survey suppressed do not appear. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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