Top Paying Jobs in Salinas, CA (2026)
Salinas, CA has 40 jobs across diverse industries. The highest-paying occupations include Psychiatrists ($225,300), Chief Executives ($221,090), Physicians, All Other ($198,060). The cost of living index is 109.04 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $2,684/month.
$160K
Avg. median salary
109.04
Cost of living index
$2,684
Median 2BR rent
N/A
Population
Highest paying careers in Salinas
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychiatrists | Healthcare | $225K | $108.32/hr |
| 2 | Chief Executives | Management | $221K | $106.29/hr |
| 3 | Physicians, All Other | Healthcare | $198K | $95.22/hr |
| 4 | Dentists, General | Healthcare | $176K | $84.57/hr |
| 5 | Pharmacists | Healthcare | $169K | $81.27/hr |
| 6 | Veterinarians | Healthcare | $168K | $80.93/hr |
| 7 | Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | $168K | $80.9/hr |
| 8 | Lawyers | Legal | $168K | $80.62/hr |
| 9 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | Management | $166K | $80.01/hr |
| 10 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | Management | $164K | $78.79/hr |
| 11 | Physician Assistants | Healthcare | $164K | $78.7/hr |
| 12 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | Management | $160K | $/hr |
| 13 | Financial Managers | Management | $159K | $76.32/hr |
| 14 | Natural Sciences Managers | Management | $157K | $75.56/hr |
| 15 | Optometrists | Healthcare | $150K | $71.88/hr |
| 16 | Human Resources Managers | Management | $148K | $71.37/hr |
| 17 | Purchasing Managers | Management | $144K | $69.16/hr |
| 18 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | Public Safety | $142K | $68.14/hr |
| 19 | Mechanical Engineers | Engineering | $141K | $67.99/hr |
| 20 | Public Relations Managers | Management | $138K | $66.4/hr |
| 21 | Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | Education | $136K | $/hr |
| 22 | Registered Nurses | Healthcare | $135K | $64.94/hr |
| 23 | Software Developers | Technology | $134K | $64.57/hr |
| 24 | Marketing Managers | Management | $133K | $63.92/hr |
| 25 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Management | $131K | $63.21/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Salinas
Cost of living vs. national average+9.0% more expensive
Studio apartment (FMR)$/mo
1-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$2,684/mo
3-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
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Calculate take-home pay in Salinas
After federal and state taxes