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Average Salary in California
This page shows what jobs actually pay in California, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 771 occupations in California. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see California's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which California jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in California
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for California is ophthalmologists, except pediatric, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 401.0% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 2,040 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), California pays 12.9% higher for this work. Next on the list are psychiatrists at a mean of $239,200+ and airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 16,280 people in California, so they describe the top of the California wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 2,040 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Psychiatrists | 4,350 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 9,890 | — | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 2,560 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 7,060 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Chief Executives | 36,980 | $106.06 | $220,600 | $239,200+ |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 1,870 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Pediatricians, General | 6,960 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | 930 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 18,640 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Lawyers | 92,580 | $95.09 | $197,790 | $239,200+ |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 100,020 | $101.60 | $211,340 | $232,710 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 2,270 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $220,000 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 14,120 | $98.13 | $204,100 | $219,470 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | 2,180 | $79.78 | $165,940 | $216,910 |
Largest occupations in California
The occupation with the most jobs in California is home health and personal care aides, employing an estimated 875,110 people at a median annual wage of $34,600 and a mean of $36,160. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $34,900, so California's typical pay for this work runs 0.9% lower. The next-largest occupations are fast food and counter workers (438,950 jobs, median $37,010) and laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand (382,740 jobs, median $42,660). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of California pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 875,110 | $34,600 | $36,160 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 438,950 | $37,010 | $39,450 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 382,740 | $42,660 | $44,270 |
| Retail Salespersons | 352,860 | $37,250 | $42,870 |
| Cashiers | 349,300 | $36,270 | $38,750 |
| Registered Nurses in California | 326,720 | $140,330 | $148,330 |
| Office Clerks, General | 306,000 | $47,920 | $51,160 |
| Software Developers in California | 292,630 | $170,910 | $185,750 |
| General and Operations Managers | 292,300 | $125,240 | $163,330 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 267,340 | $39,450 | $43,150 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 243,300 | $35,290 | $44,250 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 237,680 | $38,640 | $42,790 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 211,740 | $59,950 | $60,490 |
| Security Guards | 185,510 | $43,930 | $45,970 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 183,350 | $47,790 | $53,090 |
Where California pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's California median with its own national median shows where California's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 California jobs, the largest premium is for fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators: a median of $140,080 in California versus $60,560 nationally, 131.3% higher. The largest discount is for physicians, pathologists, at $165,940 in California versus $239,200 nationally, 30.6% lower. In total, 586 of the 645 occupations with 1,000 or more California jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 386 of the 771 occupations published for California have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of California's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $140,080 | $60,560 | +131.3% |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $119,890 | $57,250 | +109.4% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $136,240 | $71,470 | +90.6% |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $134,780 | $77,800 | +73.2% |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,340 | $75,890 | +71.7% |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $51,350 | $60,020 | -14.4% |
| Physicians, All Other | $201,510 | $239,200 | -15.8% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $48,720 | $58,040 | -16.1% |
| Massage Therapists | $48,430 | $57,950 | -16.4% |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $165,940 | $239,200 | -30.6% |
Detailed California occupation guides
- Software Developer salary in California
- Elementary School Teacher salary in California
- Registered Nurse salary in California
- Nurse Practitioner salary in California
California salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in California?
By average pay, ophthalmologists, except pediatric is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for California, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in California?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In California, the largest occupation, home health and personal care aides, paid a median of $34,600 across 875,110 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 771 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in California have?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides is the largest occupation published for California, with an estimated 875,110 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $36,160.
Which occupations pay more in California than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 California jobs, fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators shows the largest premium: a median of $140,080 in California versus $60,560 nationally, 131.3% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.