Career Atlas USA

Careers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Part of California.

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA’s regional price level is above the national average (index 109.896, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 5.2% · 129,897 people employed (2026-06, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

See full list →
  1. 1General Internal Medicine Physicians$430,970
  2. 2Physicians, All Other$305,610
  3. 3Family Medicine Physicians$291,880
  4. 4Chief Executives$209,080
  5. 5Architectural and Engineering Managers$206,880

Largest Occupations

See full list →
  1. 1Home Health and Personal Care Aides4,470 employed
  2. 2Office Clerks, General3,360 employed
  3. 3Fast Food and Counter Workers3,220 employed
  4. 4Cashiers2,530 employed
  5. 5Retail Salespersons2,430 employed

Highest Concentration

See full list →
  1. 1Acupuncturists9.86× national avg
  2. 2Stonemasons8.85× national avg
  3. 3Plasterers and Stucco Masons8.29× national avg
  4. 4Anthropologists and Archeologists7.87× national avg
  5. 5Psychiatric Aides7.13× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

See full list →

cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1General Internal Medicine Physicians$392,162
  2. 2Physicians, All Other$278,090
  3. 3Family Medicine Physicians$265,597
  4. 4Chief Executives$190,253
  5. 5Architectural and Engineering Managers$188,251

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score isn’t available at the metro level yet — see California state page.