In the broad economic sense, this is the best Orange County jobs market since the turn of the century.

But what are the best-paying of those jobs being created? And are those Orange County opportunities on the rise with salaries growing?

I used my trusty spreadsheet to look at detailed federal employment data for Orange County private-industry employers for 2015. Reviewing 64 job categories employing 2,000 or more in Orange County last year, I learned that jobs in the 10 private-industry sectors with the highest pay grew in number last year by 2.7 percent with an average wage of $106,000 – up 9 percent in 2015. Much of this work was in technology-related fields.

RELATED: See what jobs pay the least in Orange County

Here is a look at the best-compensated end of the pay scale, the private sector’s 10 top-paid crafts.

10. TELECOM

Whether the communications are handheld or desk-bound, wired or wireless, the need grows. But it’s a tough business.

Orange County’s 362 telecommunications firms employed 8,058, but jobs fell by 1.7 percent in a year. Average annual pay was $91,077, but the 5 percent jump may be due more to moving lower-rung jobs out of town.

9. INSURERS

The business of insuring is a growing, lucrative craft.

Orange County’s 2,197 insurance enterprises employed 27,518 – up 2.4 percent in a year. Annual pay averaged $91,183, up 5 percent vs. 2014.

A healthy economy gives institutions and individuals extra cash to buy insurance for their assets and valuables. Health insurance shopping is a must. Not to mention some insurance business these days involves an aging population looking for investment returns.

8. DATA PROCESSING

We’ve all become information hoarders, which has benefited those who toil in compiling, storing and networking electronic data.

Orange County’s data processing and hosting services businesses last year had 158 employers who grew their workforces by 18 percent to 2,310 workers.

Average annual wages were $94,628 – up 15 percent in a year – and it’s a good bet these are growth opportunity careers, as nobody is cutting back on their stashes of documents and media any year soon.

7. OTHER INFO SERVICES

Much of the work in this niche is providing online information, such as building and maintaining websites.

It’s not a huge craft in Orange County: 150 employers had 2,304 workers – but it’s fast-growing. Jobs grew by 24 percent last year.

Pay was good – average annual wages were $95,412 – but flat in 2015.

6. MANAGEMENT

This job category is a bit odd, primarily representing folks who work for companies that run or own other companies. You know, headquarters staffs.

It’s another relatively big-business business. Orange County had 553 management outfits with 29,203 workers in 2015, or 54 workers per shop.

Workers grew by 2 percent, and average wages of $101,305 were up 3 percent last year.

5. ELECTRONICS MAKING

Like many manufacturers, Orange County’s high-tech goods makers face challenges.

Those creating computer and electronic goods – including audio/visual gear and navigational tools – had average wages of $103,000 last year. But the pay was off 2 percent.

These are bigger workplaces – 560 employers had 33,177 workers, or 59 jobs at the typical shop.

While the number of local workers was flat in the sector last year, this niche has nearly triple the workers you’d expect when comparing Orange County with the national employment norm.

4. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Orange County has a good-sized industry providing everything from legal and accounting help, engineering and architectural work to computer smarts and marketing savvy.

“Professional and technical services” is filled with small employers – 15,248 employers with 126,057 workers in the fourth quarter, or 8.3 workers per shop. This niche’s share of the local workforce is roughly one-third bigger than the national norm.

And these services are in demand as the average annual pay of $104,849 in 2015 was up 19 percent!

But these job opportunities can be volatile as the need for much of this consultancy work dims when big employers pull back in any slowing economy.

3. PUBLISHING

Yes, my newspaper industry is in a group that is Orange County’s third-highest paid work, with average wages of $117,389 a year, up 9 percent in 12 months!

But the bulk of the wealth-building jobs in publishing are people creating software … not working on products printed on remnants of dead trees.

The local publishing industry (note: minus internet publishing) had 302 employers last year with 8,599 workers, 4 percent more than 2014.

The future for software is bright while challenges continue to grow for printed publishing.

2. UTILITY WORK

The 3,227 private-sector folks who help bring you electricity, natural gas, water and sewer services got average wages of $117,505 at year’s end.

Opportunities are limited, as Orange County has roughly half as many of these jobs as a typical U.S. market. There are only 82 employers in this field in Orange County.

I don’t see fuel or water going out of fashion soon, but automation is cutting some need for workers in the field.

1. INVESTMENTS

Orange County’s best-paying private-sector gigs are at the 1,513 employers who handle stocks, bonds and commodity contracts – whether that be trading investments or advising others what to do with their money.

This niche’s workforce grew by 2.4 percent in 2015 to 11,375. Average annual wage for ’15 ran $187,547, even after dropping 4 percent in a tough year for investing!

This business has blossomed since the recession ended with frequent hot investment markets but could suffer larger retractions if investors turn skittish in coming years.

Contact the writer: jlansner@scng.com

Also …

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6 quick facts about Orange County’s middle-class jobs

O.C. adds 2,200 new jobs, nudging rate down to 4.4%



