
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in San Diego
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in San Diego
Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.
As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in San Diego-Carlsbad, CA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.
#54. Physical therapist aides
- Annual mean salary: $28,330
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
#53. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $33,110
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,350
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
#52. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $33,840
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)
#51. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $34,720
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
#50. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $37,850
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
#49. Orderlies
- Annual mean salary: $37,940
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
#48. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $39,810
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
#47. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $41,550
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
#46. Massage therapists
- Annual mean salary: $42,050
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
#45. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $42,380
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,840
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
#44. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $42,880
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
#43. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $45,520
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
#42. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $48,980
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
#41. Phlebotomists
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
#40. Medical equipment preparers
- Annual mean salary: $50,740
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)

#39. Hearing aid specialists
- Annual mean salary: $53,190
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- Employment: 8,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL ($91,510)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($77,450)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($75,800)
#38. Exercise physiologists
- Annual mean salary: $53,620
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,750
- Employment: 7,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($184,950)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,760)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($69,300)

#37. Athletic trainers
- Annual mean salary: $54,010
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
#36. Psychiatric technicians
- Annual mean salary: $54,030
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)
#35. Medical transcriptionists
- Annual mean salary: $54,080
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
#34. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $61,750
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
#33. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $62,310
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
#32. Recreational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $62,770
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
#31. Surgical technologists
- Annual mean salary: $62,840
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
#30. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $63,010
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
#29. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Annual mean salary: $63,470
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)
#28. Audiologists
- Annual mean salary: $72,060
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,900
- Employment: 13,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reno, NV ($146,950)
--- Fresno, CA ($131,270)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($120,440)
#27. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $76,070
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
#26. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $80,990
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,820
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
#25. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $82,060
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
#24. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $82,650
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
#23. Speech-language pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $92,010
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
#22. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $94,000
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
#21. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $94,420
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
#20. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
#19. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $99,780
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
#18. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $101,270
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,790
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)

#17. Chiropractors
- Annual mean salary: $101,610
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
#16. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $104,860
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 25,260
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
#15. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $118,450
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
#14. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $119,000
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
#13. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $122,680
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,680
- Employment: 9,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($222,760)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($206,190)
--- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA ($200,200)
#12. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $124,070
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

#11. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $125,550
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
#10. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $126,260
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
#9. Nurse midwives
- Annual mean salary: $130,140
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,810
- Employment: 6,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($163,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($156,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($130,140)
#8. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $134,180
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,940
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
#7. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $139,740
- #257 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)

#6. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $165,320
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)

#5. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $200,640
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)
#4. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $214,240
- #153 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)
#3. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $250,780
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $184,410
- Employment: 29,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($277,390)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($273,770)
--- Chico, CA ($270,550)
#2. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $253,460
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)
#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $277,590
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $233,610
- Employment: 18,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville, NC ($284,520)
--- Akron, OH ($282,650)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($281,800)



