Salaries by state
California Salaries
What jobs pay in California, from published federal wage statistics for the state, aged to 2026. Overall, California pay runs about 13.9% above the national median across occupations.
Highest-paying jobs in California
Ranked by median annual wage in the state.
1Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$400,1502Neurologist$357,0803Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$353,9004Psychiatrist$353,5005General Internal Medicine Physician$313,8906Obstetricians and Gynecologists$301,2407Nurse Anesthetist$292,4108Urologist$281,5909Hospitalist$281,59010Allergists and Immunologists$281,59011Physicians, All Other$281,59012Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians$281,59013Preventive Medicine Physician$281,59014Sports Medicine Physician$281,59015Radiologist$270,560
Most common jobs and what they pay in California
The largest U.S. occupations, with each one’s median wage in the state.
1Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,3202Retail Salesperson$38,4403Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,2804General and Operations Managers$124,3905Registered Nurse$140,2706Cashier$37,1007Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$44,7108Stockers and Order Fillers$42,8709Customer Service Representative$49,56010Office Clerks, General$48,46011Waiters and Waitresses$36,08012Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$41,09013Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,23014Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$55,40015Software Developer$174,410
What Am I Worth?Get a free personalized report for your title and experience in California.Cost of LivingSee what a salary in California is worth in another market.Browse All JobsExplore 27,000+ titles with filters for family, industry, and location.
All states
Alabama-14%Alaska+7%Arizona-4%Arkansas-18%Colorado+6%Connecticut+5%Delaware-0%District of Columbia+17%Florida-8%Georgia-7%Hawaii+3%Idaho-8%Illinois-1%Indiana-7%Iowa-9%Kansas-10%Kentucky-12%Louisiana-14%Maine-3%Maryland+4%Massachusetts+10%Michigan-6%Minnesota+2%Mississippi-19%Missouri-8%Montana-8%Nebraska-9%Nevada-4%New Hampshire-0%New Jersey+8%New Mexico-8%New York+10%North Carolina-7%North Dakota-6%Ohio-7%Oklahoma-14%Oregon+5%Pennsylvania-5%Rhode Island+3%South Carolina-10%South Dakota-11%Tennessee-11%Texas-8%Utah-6%Vermont-1%Virginia-1%Washington+14%West Virginia-15%Wisconsin-5%Wyoming-8%
Source: published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics state wage data by occupation, aged to 2026 using our documented methodology. State lists last compiled August 19, 2026. See Methodology.
