Insights
The job market, by region.
Unemployment, hiring by industry, what jobs pay and where demand is heading, from the California Employment Development Department's labor market data. Updated as EDD publishes.
San Francisco and San Mateo Counties
-0.3 pts vs a year ago · California 5.4%
August 2026 (preliminary)
+1.1% vs a year ago
August 2026
870,200 employed · 37,300 looking
August 2026
1,424,550 openings expected, including turnover
Projection 2023–2033
Unemployment trend
Monthly rate, last two years.
Total jobs
Nonfarm payroll jobs, last two years.
Where hiring is growing
Jobs by industry, compared with the same month a year earlier (August 2026).
- Leisure & hospitality+5.3%133,500 jobs
- Government+3.7%141,600 jobs
- Education & health services+3.4%169,200 jobs
- Construction+2.8%39,700 jobs
- Other services+0.8%37,100 jobs
- Trade, transportation & utilities+0.5%129,000 jobs
- Manufacturing-0.3%31,100 jobs
- Professional & business services-0.6%273,100 jobs
- Information-2.3%103,900 jobs
- Financial activities-4.3%73,100 jobs
What jobs pay here
Median pay and the typical range (middle half of workers) for common roles, from the 2026 survey. Search for any other occupation below.
| Occupation | Median hourly | Typical range | Per year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $23.78 | $21.72 – $27.26 | $49K | 9,810 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $21.81 | $19.42 – $24.48 | $45K | 8,060 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $25.21 | $23.49 – $32.42 | $52K | 5,250 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $22.69 | $21.86 – $24.42 | $47K | 10,460 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $19.24 | $18.23 – $21.45 | $40K | 15,240 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $21.88 | $19.00 – $24.24 | $46K | 20,390 |
| Security Guards | $22.26 | $21.76 – $24.83 | $46K | 14,430 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $22.12 | $20.12 – $27.07 | $46K | 12,930 |
| Retail Salespersons | $21.37 | $19.52 – $23.39 | $44K | 14,640 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $29.02 | $23.38 – $35.79 | $60K | 9,740 |
| Nursing Assistants | $28.75 | $24.63 – $32.69 | $60K | 3,930 |
Where demand is heading
EDD's 10-year occupational projections (2023–2033). Openings include new jobs plus people retiring or changing careers.
- 1Home Health and Personal Care Aides$17.73/hr median · High school diploma or equivalent95,610openings
- 2Fast Food and Counter Workers$20.59/hr median · No formal educational credential51,810openings
- 3Taxi Drivers$18.96/hr median · No formal educational credential47,110openings
- 4Software Developers$88.42/hr median · Bachelor's degree39,150openings
- 5Waiters and Waitresses$18.58/hr median · No formal educational credential37,370openings
- 6Managers, All Other$100.81/hr median · Bachelor's degree26,890openings
- 7Cashiers$19.56/hr median · No formal educational credential26,670openings
- 8Cooks, Restaurant$22.37/hr median · No formal educational credential23,370openings
- 1Nurse Practitioners$114.76/hr median · Master's degree+35.5%1,720 now
- 2Cooks, Restaurant$22.37/hr median · No formal educational credential+35.1%11,060 now
- 3Home Health and Personal Care Aides$17.73/hr median · High school diploma or equivalent+34.4%46,620 now
- 4Taxi Drivers$18.96/hr median · No formal educational credential+31.1%32,820 now
- 5Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$30.25/hr median · High school diploma or equivalent+30.1%3,120 now
- 6Media and Communication Workers, All Other$49.12/hr median · High school diploma or equivalent+27.8%2,880 now
- 7News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$59.77/hr median · Bachelor's degree+27.2%1,140 now
- 8Data Scientists$83.83/hr median · Bachelor's degree+26.0%6,880 now
Browse open roles, from same-week shifts to career positions.
Source: California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information Division, via the California Open Data Portal: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Long-Term Occupational Employment Projections. Monthly figures are not seasonally adjusted; recent months are preliminary and may be revised.