Top 10 Occupations of Note

This analysis spotlights notable occupations in the San Diego area each year, taking into account job quality, five-year growth, earning potential, job availability and relative regional importance. These factors collectively provide a detailed ranking of all occupations in the San Diego area, which are then grouped into larger categories, highlighting 10 overarching occupational categories worth discussing this year. 

To focus on jobs with fewer barriers to entry, occupations are filtered to include those that don't require graduate education or long-term on-the-job experience, with about 61% of those included in the analysis requiring a high school education or less.

Turnover rate is often considered a proxy for worker satisfaction or the quality of work conditions. All occupational groups were below the 52% turnover rate averaged across all occupations in San Diego.

5 Year Growth Rate and Total Number of Jobs provides insight into job trends for a given occupation. If an occupation has shown growth in the number of jobs, this is a positive sign for both the occupation and the availability of jobs. However, even jobs that have not shown strong growth can be big job producers; for example, Computer Occupations have only grown 2%; however, they provide 52,896 jobs in San Diego. 

For this reason, it's important to look at the recent number of total jobs alongside historic growth. A number of occupations in this analysis have not shown strong recent growth in job numbers, however they are competitive for other reasons (e.g. salary, concentration, etc.).

Cost-of-Living-Adjusted Median Annual Earnings shows how workers in an occupational category are usually compensated, adjusted for the cost of living in the San Diego area. A majority of the occupations included here have median incomes above the San Diego average.

Employment Concentration illustrates the degree to which an occupation is unique to the area as compared to the national labor market. For example, life scientists are, on average, 2.24 times more concentrated in the San Diego area than in the rest of the nation.

Engineers

There were 27,479 Engineers in San Diego in 2025 (up 349 from last year), making a median of $89,566 ($127,811 not accounting for COL). This nearly 1.6 times as many as you'd expect to see nationally, giving San Diego a larger share of these types of workers, a higher concentration than San Francisco MSA (1.4), Los Angeles MSA (.96). Engineers include disciplines in Architectural, Scientific Research and Development Services, Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing, and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing.

The UC San Diego Extended Studies Engineering area offers the latest training in communication, electrical, embedded, mechanical, and systems engineering.

Computer Occupations

There were 52,896 Computer Occupation jobs in San Diego in 2025, with a median of $88,901 when adjusted for COL ($126,861 not adjusted for COL), making it one of the highest-paying occupation groups included here. This group of workers includes positions like Web and Digital Interface Designers, Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers, Software Developers, Computer Programmers, Network and Computer Systems Administrators, Database Architects, and Computer Systems Analysts.

Explore Extended Studies Technology courses and certificates to learn about educational and training options for these careers.

Business Operations Specialists

With 83,183 Business Operations Specialists in San Diego in 2025, this occupation is the most numerous of the top ten. Workers in this grouping have a median COL-adjusted annual wage of $61,236 ($87,383 not accounting for COL). This occupational category includes positions like Project Management Specialists, Logisticians, Compliance Officers, and Insurance Appraisers.

Extended Studies Business & Leadership area offers Project Management & Lean Six Sigma programs and certificates, as well as Pharma compliance courses in the Drug Discovery Development program.

Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners

There were 59,732 Healthcare Diagnosing/Treating Practitioners in San Diego in 2025, making a median annual wage of $95,555 ($136,357 not accounting for COL). This occupation has grown by 7% over the last 5 years and includes Dental Hygienists, Registered Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, and Radiation Therapists.

The Healthcare area within Extended Studies is the region's premier professional education network, dedicated to providing cutting-edge learning opportunities for healthcare organizations and individuals.

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

In 2025, there were 25,447 jobs in this field, including Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, Telecommunication Equipment Installers and Repairers, and Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers. While slightly less competitive in terms of salary ($40,193 median annual wage, or $57,356 not accounting for COL), this area has seen a 3% increase in jobs and a turnover rate more than 10 percentage points lower than the average (41% compared to 52%) across all occupations.

For those interested in these occupations, the HVAC Systems Design and Control program and the Wireless Communications Technologist specialized certificate at Extended Studies offer skills, mentorship and a line to job opportunities.

Physical Scientists

There were 3,357 Physical Scientists in San Diego in 2025, making a median annual wage of $69,115 ($98,628 not accounting for COL), and they are 1.3 times more highly concentrated in San Diego than the national average. Physical Scientists cover a wide range of fields, including Hydrologists, Geoscientists, Materials Scientists, Chemists, and Atmospheric and Space Scientists.

Extended Studies offers Science and Engineering learning options for career professionals and entry-level job seekers.

Health Technologists and Technicians

There were 26,896 Health Technologists and Technicians in San Diego in 2024, making a median annual wage of $46,256 ($66,007 not accounting for COL). Health Technologists and Technicians have shown the largest growth of any occupation highlighted in this analysis, increasing by 14% over the last 5 years. This category would include jobs such as Hearing Aid Specialists, Medical Dosimetrists, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

The Healthcare area's mission is to equip those in the healthcare field—and those aspiring to join it—with the most up-to-date knowledge and skills.

Drafters, Engineering Technicians, and Mapping Technicians

There were 8,579 drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians in San Diego in 2025 making $55,484 ($79,175 not accounting for COL). Compared to engineering jobs, pay is lower but increased marginally year over year (+$2,912 compared to +$2,713), and educational requirements are also significantly lower, usually requiring only an associate's degree or lower to be eligible. The turnover rate between the two categories is the same, and went down by one percentage point year over year (YOY) to 29% (23% lower than the average across all occupations in San Diego). This group includes occupations such as technologists and technicians in electrical, aerospace, and other engineering disciplines.

Explore Engineering learning opportunities that help career seekers enter and build careers in these industries.

Life Scientists

There were 8,843 life scientists in San Diego in 2024, making a median annual wage of $81,476 ($116,266 not accounting for COL). Of the occupations included here, life scientists are the most unique to the San Diego region, with concentrations more than 2.2 times higher than the national average. This group includes occupations like Biological Scientists, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, Microbiologists, Soil and Plant Scientists, Food Scientists and Technologists, and Animal Scientists.

Discover a variety of courses and certificate programs in the Sciences that are designed for industry professionals to upskill and advance, as well as those looking to enter careers in the biotechnology and environmental sciences fields.

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians

There were 7,482 Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians in San Diego in 2025, making a median annual wage of $41,952 ($59,865 not accounting for COL). Most of these occupations (75%) do not require a bachelor’s degree, but all require at minimum an associate’s degree. With nearly twice the employment concentration as the national average (1.9), San Diego is a hotspot for this type of role, including Biological Technicians, Chemical Technicians, Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Social Science Research Assistants, and Food Science Technicians.

Extended Studies offers Environment and Sustainability, Healthcare, Integrative Nutrition, Sciences and Social Sciences learning options for career professionals and entry-level job seekers.

The Center for Research + Evaluation at UC San Diego Extended Studies

The Center for Research and Evaluation (CR+E) has a mission to promote positive change in the local community and beyond through data-driven research. CR+E partners with nonprofits, community, and academic institutions to support projects centered around workforce development, education, youth services, health, and arts and culture. The expert team employs a wide range of research methodologies and statistical techniques to assist with every stage of research design, from identifying funding opportunities and grant writing to program monitoring and evaluation reporting.

To learn more about the Center’s services and connect with the team, visit the Center for Research + Evaluation, or reach them by phone at 858-822-0747.