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Highest Paying Jobs in California

Ranked by the average of the local median wages BLS publishes for California, among 162 occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Highest paying occupations in California
#OccupationAverage median wageWorkers in state
1Computer and Information Systems Managers$227,80784,380
2Chief Executives$224,03429,560
3Architectural and Engineering Managers$204,79928,160
4Lawyers$199,74690,200
5Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$193,43815,290
6Computer Hardware Engineers$192,19216,830
7Marketing Managers$190,66547,770
8Software Developers$184,398253,790
9Financial Managers$183,46686,380
10Human Resources Managers$176,79325,220
11Nurse Practitioners$175,37424,280
12Pharmacists$165,88733,040
13Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$158,97431,150
14Registered Nurses$151,152328,270
15Data Scientists$148,01834,810
16Electrical Engineers$147,36723,110
17Medical and Health Services Managers$144,24572,340
18Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$143,17627,650
19Web and Digital Interface Designers$142,73122,560
20Industrial Production Managers$136,96624,420
21Mechanical Engineers$136,45529,260
22Sales Managers$136,402102,240
23Construction Managers$136,38133,860
24Personal Financial Advisors$132,47229,800
25Producers and Directors$128,28729,260

Highest-paying jobs in California

This ranking covers 162 occupations that employ at least 1,000 people in California. The figure used is the employment-weighted average of the local median wages published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2025) for the state's wage areas. Computer and Information Systems Managers comes first at $227,807 a year; number 25 on the list, Producers and Directors, averages $128,287.

Each occupation links to its California page with the wage areas, the counties and what is left after taxes and living costs. Pay is only part of the picture, so compare it with local rents and taxes before choosing where to work.