Highest-Paying Jobs in California (2025)
Ranking 153 occupations by median salary in California · Source: BLS OES & H-1B filings
Avg. Median Salary (CA)
$120,533
+18.4% vs national avg
National Median
$101,797
across all states
Total Employed
9.3M+
workers tracked in California
Top 25 Highest-Paying Jobs in California
Occupations in California ranked by median annual salary (2025 BLS OES data).
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | vs National | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airline Pilot | $353,900 | +65.0% | 11K |
| 2 | Psychiatrist | $353,500 | +37.2% | 5K |
| 3 | Internal Medicine Physician | $313,890 | +20.6% | 6K |
| 4 | Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $301,240 | -1.9% | 2K |
| 5 | Nurse Anesthetist | $292,410 | +19.2% | 2K |
| 6 | Radiologist | $270,560 | -28.0% | 690 |
| 7 | Family Medicine Physician | $252,010 | -2.3% | — |
| 8 | Chief Executive Officer | $218,600 | +2.8% | 35K |
| 9 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | $218,290 | +34.0% | 95K |
| 10 | Pediatrician | $214,140 | -0.6% | 7K |
| 11 | Engineering Manager | $210,280 | +26.6% | 30K |
| 12 | Physicist | $207,490 | +34.9% | 6K |
| 13 | Nurse Midwife | $203,840 | +53.5% | 870 |
| 14 | Podiatrist | $201,300 | +12.9% | 1K |
| 15 | Lawyer | $195,080 | +44.8% | 96K |
| 16 | Marketing Manager | $193,620 | +32.2% | 55K |
| 17 | Cardiologist | $185,610 | -62.1% | 630 |
| 18 | Computer Hardware Engineer | $185,180 | +42.3% | 20K |
| 19 | Financial Manager | $180,770 | +19.9% | 93K |
| 20 | Data Analyst | $180,500 | +135.7% | 120 |
| 21 | Software Developer | $174,410 | +36.9% | 284K |
| 22 | Nuclear Engineer | $172,400 | +22.3% | 1K |
| 23 | Database Administrator | $170,160 | +28.4% | 6K |
| 24 | Human Resources Manager | $170,080 | +22.8% | 27K |
| 25 | Nurse Practitioner | $168,520 | +26.0% | 25K |
Skilled Trades
Airline Pilot
11K employed
$353,900
+65.0% vs national
Construction Supervisor
72K employed
$97,680
+17.7% vs national
Electrician
73K employed
$76,160
+9.9% vs national
Plumber
48K employed
$72,830
+6.2% vs national
Automotive Service Technician
65K employed
$64,980
+24.5% vs national
Air Traffic Controller
2K employed
$62,600
+9.9% vs national
Construction Laborer
88K employed
$60,270
+22.3% vs national
Maintenance and Repair Worker
143K employed
$57,000
+12.5% vs national
Healthcare
Psychiatrist
5K employed
$353,500
+37.2% vs national
Internal Medicine Physician
6K employed
$313,890
+20.6% vs national
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
2K employed
$301,240
-1.9% vs national
Nurse Anesthetist
2K employed
$292,410
+19.2% vs national
Radiologist
690 employed
$270,560
-28.0% vs national
Family Medicine Physician
$252,010
-2.3% vs national
Pediatrician
7K employed
$214,140
-0.6% vs national
Nurse Midwife
870 employed
$203,840
+53.5% vs national
Podiatrist
1K employed
$201,300
+12.9% vs national
Cardiologist
630 employed
$185,610
-62.1% vs national
Nurse Practitioner
25K employed
$168,520
+26.0% vs national
Dentist
17K employed
$165,950
-5.6% vs national
Physician Assistant
14K employed
$165,650
+21.8% vs national
Pharmacist
34K employed
$164,610
+15.2% vs national
Veterinarian
9K employed
$163,920
+31.2% vs national
Medical and Health Services Manager
75K employed
$141,480
+17.6% vs national
Registered Nurse
339K employed
$140,270
+49.1% vs national
Optometrist
7K employed
$136,300
+0.1% vs national
Surgeon
$131,990
-65.0% vs national
Dental Hygienist
25K employed
$124,930
+29.0% vs national
Occupational Therapist
14K employed
$124,510
+26.1% vs national
Physical Therapist
27K employed
$124,190
+22.2% vs national
Radiologic Technologist
21K employed
$121,260
+49.2% vs national
Speech-Language Pathologist
17K employed
$118,970
+30.3% vs national
Respiratory Therapist
19K employed
$104,820
+25.0% vs national
Dietitian and Nutritionist
9K employed
$98,850
+34.5% vs national
Licensed Practical Nurse
83K employed
$79,750
+19.5% vs national
Social Worker
20K employed
$79,000
+38.2% vs national
Mental Health Counselor
76K employed
$59,250
-0.2% vs national
Pharmacy Technician
40K employed
$55,110
+21.3% vs national
Dental Assistant
56K employed
$50,110
+2.1% vs national
Medical Assistant
117K employed
$49,660
+11.3% vs national
Nursing Assistant (CNA)
110K employed
$47,630
+13.9% vs national
Rehabilitation Counselor
14K employed
$44,480
-7.6% vs national
Home Health and Personal Care Aide
970K employed
$34,320
-1.8% vs national
Management
Chief Executive Officer
35K employed
$218,600
+2.8% vs national
Marketing Manager
55K employed
$193,620
+32.2% vs national
Human Resources Manager
27K employed
$170,080
+22.8% vs national
Public Relations Manager
9K employed
$167,980
+29.8% vs national
Purchasing Manager
7K employed
$159,830
+14.3% vs national
Training and Development Manager
7K employed
$156,260
+25.2% vs national
Sales Manager
112K employed
$134,910
-3.2% vs national
Construction Manager
35K employed
$133,160
+16.5% vs national
Industrial Production Manager
25K employed
$132,620
+6.6% vs national
General and Operations Manager
301K employed
$124,390
+15.0% vs national
Project Management Specialist
114K employed
$120,910
+22.5% vs national
Administrative Services Manager
41K employed
$108,890
-4.0% vs national
Management Analyst
137K employed
$101,460
+3.8% vs national
Human Resources Specialist
104K employed
$83,500
+14.9% vs national
Property and Real Estate Manager
50K employed
$77,030
+12.6% vs national
Technology
Computer and Information Systems Manager
95K employed
$218,290
+34.0% vs national
Computer Hardware Engineer
20K employed
$185,180
+42.3% vs national
Data Analyst
120 employed
$180,500
+135.7% vs national
Software Developer
284K employed
$174,410
+36.9% vs national
Database Administrator
6K employed
$170,160
+28.4% vs national
Computer and Information Research Scientist
8K employed
$159,100
+19.6% vs national
Computer Network Architect
15K employed
$158,870
+25.6% vs national
Data Scientist
39K employed
$141,590
+32.0% vs national
Information Security Analyst
16K employed
$138,570
+18.5% vs national
Web and Digital Interface Designer
27K employed
$136,110
+58.5% vs national
Statistician
2K employed
$135,960
+37.9% vs national
Software Engineer
80K employed
$134,440
+26.0% vs national
Multimedia Artist and Animator
7K employed
$130,540
+65.6% vs national
Computer Systems Analyst
59K employed
$127,720
+22.7% vs national
Web Developer
7K employed
$119,570
+38.6% vs national
Computer Programmer
11K employed
$116,760
+21.6% vs national
Network Administrator
26K employed
$106,440
+13.6% vs national
Operations Research Analyst
11K employed
$102,100
+14.4% vs national
Computer User Support Specialist
74K employed
$79,570
+30.9% vs national
Computer Network Support Specialist
14K employed
$79,190
+8.1% vs national
Engineering
Engineering Manager
30K employed
$210,280
+26.6% vs national
Nuclear Engineer
1K employed
$172,400
+22.3% vs national
Aerospace Engineer
9K employed
$157,620
+21.1% vs national
Electrical Engineer
24K employed
$144,040
+25.9% vs national
Petroleum Engineer
1K employed
$143,590
+7.6% vs national
Mechanical Engineer
31K employed
$130,900
+24.2% vs national
Environmental Engineer
5K employed
$130,410
+25.3% vs national
Materials Engineer
3K employed
$128,470
+18.0% vs national
Biomedical Engineer
3K employed
$128,310
+24.0% vs national
Industrial Engineer
33K employed
$124,600
+17.0% vs national
Civil Engineer
55K employed
$122,500
+23.5% vs national
Marine Engineer
250 employed
$110,700
-3.9% vs national
Science
Physicist
6K employed
$207,490
+34.9% vs national
Biochemist and Biophysicist
3K employed
$139,580
+40.7% vs national
Medical Scientist
30K employed
$136,990
+48.5% vs national
Psychologist
13K employed
$116,000
+19.4% vs national
Urban and Regional Planner
7K employed
$109,610
+30.8% vs national
Environmental Scientist
12K employed
$106,510
+33.1% vs national
Geoscientist
3K employed
$106,500
+17.5% vs national
Chemist
10K employed
$97,860
+6.4% vs national
Legal
Finance
Financial Manager
93K employed
$180,770
+19.9% vs national
Actuary
1K employed
$130,510
+4.6% vs national
Personal Financial Advisor
32K employed
$130,330
+31.5% vs national
Economist
860 employed
$119,410
+7.3% vs national
Financial Analyst
45K employed
$109,110
+12.3% vs national
Financial Examiner
4K employed
$106,000
+18.7% vs national
Budget Analyst
4K employed
$99,520
+12.7% vs national
Credit Analyst
5K employed
$97,860
+19.9% vs national
Accountant
175K employed
$97,050
+17.5% vs national
Compliance Officer
50K employed
$96,980
+22.8% vs national
Loan Officer
26K employed
$81,770
+7.1% vs national
Tax Examiner
14K employed
$80,810
+0.5% vs national
Securities Sales Agent
56K employed
$79,730
+9.8% vs national
Insurance Sales Agent
41K employed
$76,120
+19.9% vs national
Creative
Art Director
12K employed
$137,780
+45.1% vs national
Producer and Director
34K employed
$129,790
+83.5% vs national
Commercial and Industrial Designer
5K employed
$100,770
+23.1% vs national
Interior Designer
9K employed
$80,230
+21.7% vs national
Graphic Designer
27K employed
$75,130
+24.0% vs national
Audio and Video Technician
9K employed
$64,620
+19.0% vs national
Protective Services
Education
Secondary School Teacher
99K employed
$101,370
+43.9% vs national
Elementary School Teacher
155K employed
$99,650
+46.2% vs national
Middle School Teacher
37K employed
$98,950
+44.3% vs national
Instructional Coordinator
21K employed
$97,010
+27.2% vs national
Librarian
10K employed
$89,790
+33.0% vs national
School Counselor
45K employed
$86,500
+33.2% vs national
Kindergarten Teacher
7K employed
$82,550
+28.7% vs national
Tutor
60K employed
$49,570
+11.1% vs national
Business & Operations
Editor
15K employed
$98,030
+47.0% vs national
Market Research Analyst
119K employed
$94,700
+29.9% vs national
Logistician
33K employed
$92,890
+11.4% vs national
Writer and Author
8K employed
$86,480
+22.3% vs national
Public Relations Specialist
33K employed
$85,030
+22.4% vs national
Purchasing Agent
48K employed
$82,720
+7.6% vs national
Real Estate Broker
8K employed
$80,450
+14.8% vs national
Training and Development Specialist
47K employed
$75,790
+10.4% vs national
Real Estate Sales Agent
18K employed
$57,560
-2.4% vs national