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Salaries in California by Occupation
Average pay by occupation in California: 36 jobs ranked by annual salary, from official U.S. BLS OEWS wage data. Use the links to jump to a California salary table.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
California pay by occupation
| Occupation | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|
| Financial Managers | $101.20 | $210,490 |
| Marketing Managers | $99.93 | $207,860 |
| Software Developers | $89.80 | $186,770 |
| Data Scientists | $75.00 | $156,000 |
| Registered Nurses | $72.25 | $150,280 |
| Information Security Analysts | $71.68 | $149,090 |
| Project Management Specialists | $59.82 | $124,430 |
| Web Developers | $59.08 | $122,890 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $54.32 | $112,980 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $50.90 | $105,880 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $49.89 | $103,760 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $46.00 | $95,670 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $45.76 | $95,180 |
| Firefighters | $45.72 | $95,090 |
| Graphic Designers | $41.73 | $86,800 |
| Electricians | $41.28 | $85,860 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $40.88 | $85,030 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $39.59 | $82,340 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $39.58 | $82,320 |
| Carpenters | $37.89 | $78,810 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $36.24 | $75,370 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $33.24 | $69,130 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $31.47 | $65,470 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $29.82 | $62,020 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $29.38 | $61,120 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $28.87 | $60,050 |
| Phlebotomists | $27.21 | $56,600 |
| Medical Assistants | $26.49 | $55,100 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $26.27 | $54,640 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $25.63 | $53,310 |
| Office Clerks, General | $24.94 | $51,880 |
| Nursing Assistants | $24.13 | $50,190 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $22.16 | $46,100 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $21.92 | $45,590 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $20.89 | $43,440 |
| Retail Salespersons | $20.65 | $42,950 |
Highest-paying occupations in California
- Financial Managers — $210,490 a year
- Marketing Managers — $207,860 a year
- Software Developers — $186,770 a year
- Data Scientists — $156,000 a year
- Registered Nurses — $150,280 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which occupation pays the most in California?
Financial Managers leads, at about $210,490 a year in the latest BLS OEWS release.
Where does the data come from?
Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data, verified on 2026-10-08. Each occupation links to its full state-by-state table.
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