The Palm Springs Job Market: An Economic Overview

If you are thinking about moving to Palm Springs, you might have a picture in your head of retired golfers and pool parties. While that’s part of the charm, the actual economic engine here is much more active and diverse than the postcards suggest. We are seeing a shift where the city is becoming a hub not just for hospitality, but for healthcare professionals and a growing wave of remote workers.

However, it is important to go in with your eyes open regarding the numbers. As of late 2025 and early 2026, the local unemployment rate has been tracking roughly between 6.5% and 6.9%. That is often a full percentage point or more higher than the Riverside County average (which usually sits closer to 5.5%).

Top Industries Driving Employment

When we look at what keeps the lights on in the Coachella Valley, it really comes down to three main pillars. Understanding which bucket your skills fall into will give you a better idea of how stable your income will be year-round.

• Tourism & Hospitality: This is the undeniable heartbeat of the desert. Hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, and the restaurant scene support roughly one in four jobs in the region. The economic impact is massive—regional tourism brings in billions annually. If you work in food and beverage, event planning, or hotel management, you will find plenty of opportunities, but you have to be ready for the pace to change drastically depending on the month.

• Healthcare: If tourism is the engine, healthcare is the stabilizer. With a population that skews slightly older, the demand for medical services never really dips. This sector creates a "recession-resistant" layer in the local economy. We are seeing high demand for registered nurses, specialists, and administrative support staff. Unlike hospitality, these roles offer steady 12-month employment.

• Retail & Clean Energy: Beyond the boutiques on Palm Canyon Drive, there is a growing clean energy sector utilizing the wind farms north of the city. While smaller than tourism, it offers technical roles in wind energy and battery storage that are becoming increasingly vital to the Palm Springs real estate market and local infrastructure.

Major Employers in Palm Springs

If you are looking for a steady paycheck when living in Palm Springs, it helps to know exactly who the heavy hitters are. While there are hundreds of small businesses, a few large entities provide the bulk of the full-time jobs with benefits.

• Desert Care Network (Desert Regional Medical Center): Located right in Palm Springs, this is the largest private employer in the city limits. It’s a Level II Trauma Center and a major hub for medical professionals.

• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians: Between their gaming operations, resorts, and tribal government, they are a massive employer in the valley, offering everything from dealer jobs to corporate executive roles.

• Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD): For educators, counselors, and administrative staff, the district is a primary source of employment with stable benefits.

• City of Palm Springs: Municipal jobs—ranging from urban planning to public safety—are highly coveted for their stability and pension potential.

• Hospitality Groups: While many hotels are independently owned, large operators like Hilton, Hyatt, and various boutique hotel groups collectively employ thousands.

Note: You will often hear about Eisenhower Health as a major employer. It is a huge economic driver, but keep in mind it is located in nearby Rancho Mirage, about a 20-minute commute from downtown Palm Springs.

Understanding Seasonality: The Summer Slowdown

This is the most critical conversation I have with anyone concerned about the cost of living in Palm Springs. The desert economy breathes in a cycle. From October through April, the population swells, tables are full, and everyone is hiring. We call this "The Season." During these months, service workers can make incredible money in tips and overtime.

Then comes the summer contraction. When temperatures hit 110°F+ in July and August, tourism drops off. Many restaurants reduce their hours or close entirely for a few weeks. If you work in hospitality, your hours might be cut significantly during this window.

The strategy here is timing. If you are job hunting, the best time to apply is usually late summer—think August or September. Employers are desperate to staff up before the winter rush begins. Showing up in June, right as things are quieting down, makes landing a gig much harder.

Salaries vs. Cost of Living Reality

There is a conversation we need to have about the gap between wages and housing expenses. Palm Springs has seen home prices rise significantly, and wages in the service sector haven't always kept pace. The cost of living in Palm Springs can be a shock if you are moving from a lower-cost area and expecting big-city wages.

For hospitality and retail workers, the average annual income often hovers around $32,000 to $40,000 before tips. With the median individual income for the city sitting around $42,000, many residents find they need a dual-income household or roommates to live comfortably, especially if they want to rent a modern condo or buy a home.

On the flip side, professional tiers tell a different story. Registered nurses and specialized healthcare providers frequently see salaries exceeding $100,000. Similarly, remote tech workers bringing Silicon Valley or Los Angeles salaries into the desert find that their money goes much further here than it did on the coast.

Remote Work & Entrepreneurship

We have seen a massive influx of "Zoom Town" residents—young professionals in Palm Springs who realized they could trade their cramped city apartments for a house with a pool in the desert. If you work remotely, the infrastructure here is solid. High-speed fiber internet is widely available in most neighborhoods.

For those who need to get out of the house and get around in Palm Springs, the coworking scene is growing. Spaces like "The Hive" or local coffee staples like Koffi serve as unofficial offices for the laptop class. The local Chamber of Commerce is also very active, hosting mixers that are great for entrepreneurs looking to build a local network.

The lifestyle appeal is obvious: you get a calmer pace of life and mountain views. You just have to be prepared to manage your work day during the summer heat, which usually means staying indoors from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Palm Springs vs. The Valley: Where are the Jobs?

One thing to remember is that Palm Springs is just one city in a chain of communities called the Coachella Valley. You don't have to work in the same city where you sleep. Traffic here is generally light compared to LA; you can get almost anywhere in the valley in 30 minutes.

• Palm Desert: Think of this as the retail hub. If you are in retail management or high-end sales (El Paseo), this is likely where you will work. Unemployment here is often slightly lower (around 5.9%) than in Palm Springs.

• Rancho Mirage: This is the healthcare center, anchored by Eisenhower Health.

• Indio & Coachella: These areas have a heavier focus on agriculture, construction, and the massive festival logistics industry.

Many people choose to live in Palm Springs for the culture and walkability, but commute 20 minutes to Rancho Mirage or Palm Desert for work. It’s a very common arrangement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to find a job in Palm Springs?

It depends heavily on the time of year and your industry. During the lead-up to winter (September/October), finding work in hospitality is relatively easy. However, finding high-paying corporate jobs outside of healthcare and government can be more challenging due to the lack of large corporate HQs in the desert.

What is the main industry in Palm Springs?

Tourism and hospitality are the dominant industries, driving the majority of the local economy and tax revenue. However, healthcare is the largest source of year-round, high-wage employment and provides the most economic stability.

What is a good salary in Palm Springs?

To live comfortably as a single renter, an income of $60,000 to $70,000 is a safe baseline to cover housing and utilities. If you are looking to buy a home in the current market, a household income of $100,000+ is increasingly necessary to secure a mortgage on a single-family property.