Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
53 Highest Paying Jobs in California (2026)
The highest-paying job in California is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a state-aggregated median salary of $235,930 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 4 BLS-tracked metros. Across all 53 occupations the average median is $128,117, with 38 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. California's average cost-of-living index is 175, so the average median equates to $73,210 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in California
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across California's 4 BLS-tracked metros.
State median $235,930 · 0 jobs · top metro: Los Angeles ($235,930)
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in California earn $235,930 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Los Angeles) pays $235,930 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $205,504 · 58,520 jobs · top metro: San Francisco ($221,810)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in California earn $205,504 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Francisco) pays $221,810 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $202,732 · 66,920 jobs · top metro: San Francisco ($215,090)
Lawyers in California earn $202,732 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Francisco) pays $215,090 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $189,654 · 43,980 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($228,580)
Marketing Managers in California earn $189,654 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $228,580 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $187,963 · 71,170 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($218,920)
Financial Managers in California earn $187,963 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $218,920 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $182,132 · 13,430 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($225,730)
Nurse Practitioners in California earn $182,132 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $225,730 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $181,544 · 242,910 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($208,270)
Software Developers in California earn $181,544 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $208,270 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $177,500 · 17,040 jobs · top metro: San Francisco ($206,420)
Human Resources Managers in California earn $177,500 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Francisco) pays $206,420 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $167,565 · 21,390 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($196,250)
Pharmacists in California earn $167,565 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $196,250 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $166,286 · 21,550 jobs · top metro: San Francisco ($168,750)
Medical and Health Services Managers in California earn $166,286 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Francisco) pays $168,750 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 53 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $235,930 | Los Angeles | $235,930 | 0 |
| 2 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $205,504 | San Francisco | $221,810 | 58,520 |
| 3 | Lawyer | Legal | $202,732 | San Francisco | $215,090 | 66,920 |
| 4 | Marketing Manager | Management | $189,654 | San Jose | $228,580 | 43,980 |
| 5 | Financial Manager | Finance | $187,963 | San Jose | $218,920 | 71,170 |
| 6 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $182,132 | San Jose | $225,730 | 13,430 |
| 7 | Software Developer | Technology | $181,544 | San Jose | $208,270 | 242,910 |
| 8 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $177,500 | San Francisco | $206,420 | 17,040 |
| 9 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $167,565 | San Jose | $196,250 | 21,390 |
| 10 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $166,286 | San Francisco | $168,750 | 21,550 |
| 11 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $162,775 | San Jose | $191,880 | 6,740 |
| 12 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $158,597 | San Jose | $215,600 | 7,790 |
| 13 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $152,885 | San Jose | $208,940 | 197,210 |
| 14 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $152,792 | San Jose | $186,920 | 17,680 |
| 15 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $152,481 | San Jose | $175,520 | 12,170 |
| 16 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $151,569 | San Jose | $174,120 | 14,070 |
| 17 | Data Scientist | Technology | $149,591 | San Jose | $173,160 | 28,500 |
| 18 | Sales Manager | Management | $147,798 | San Jose | $200,450 | 72,340 |
| 19 | Web Developer | Technology | $138,930 | San Jose | $178,100 | 22,150 |
| 20 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $138,512 | San Jose | $157,770 | 19,700 |
| 21 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $137,695 | San Jose | $162,480 | 161,770 |
| 22 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $137,531 | San Jose | $160,800 | 39,510 |
| 23 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $135,745 | San Jose | $168,070 | 65,750 |
| 24 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $135,148 | San Francisco | $157,510 | 25,820 |
| 25 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $134,826 | San Jose | $165,700 | 25,320 |
| 26 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $130,388 | San Jose | $147,730 | 20,180 |
| 27 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $120,763 | San Jose | $137,250 | 15,400 |
| 28 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $120,245 | San Jose | $136,290 | 20,490 |
| 29 | Management Analyst | Management | $117,052 | San Jose | $141,150 | 83,520 |
| 30 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $115,581 | San Jose | $135,860 | 8,490 |
| 31 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $115,090 | San Jose | $134,470 | 32,100 |
| 32 | Network Architect | Technology | $114,118 | San Jose | $128,620 | 20,020 |
| 33 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $113,484 | San Jose | $129,260 | 35,880 |
| 34 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $113,313 | San Diego | $131,590 | 3,700 |
| 35 | Architect | Engineering | $113,108 | San Jose | $134,200 | 11,260 |
| 36 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $112,668 | San Jose | $135,010 | 11,660 |
| 37 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $111,705 | San Francisco | $132,190 | 2,750 |
| 38 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $101,842 | San Jose | $139,140 | 80,670 |
| 39 | Accountant | Finance | $99,581 | San Jose | $121,630 | 119,670 |
| 40 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $99,138 | San Jose | $103,640 | 51,050 |
| 41 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $96,766 | Los Angeles | $100,580 | 76,010 |
| 42 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $85,487 | San Jose | $101,200 | 22,730 |
| 43 | Writer/Author | Creative | $83,575 | San Jose | $107,810 | 6,850 |
| 44 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $83,316 | San Francisco | $98,670 | 7,650 |
| 45 | Loan Officer | Finance | $82,595 | San Francisco | $94,110 | 17,680 |
| 46 | Electrician | Trades | $82,310 | San Jose | $95,020 | 43,460 |
| 47 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $80,390 | San Jose | $98,530 | 19,620 |
| 48 | Carpenter | Trades | $75,851 | San Francisco | $80,950 | 60,200 |
| 49 | Paralegal | Legal | $71,581 | San Jose | $97,740 | 34,700 |
| 50 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $70,543 | San Jose | $81,900 | 20,970 |
| 51 | Plumber | Trades | $68,940 | San Jose | $90,220 | 28,290 |
| 52 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $66,339 | San Jose | $77,260 | 35,500 |
| 53 | Welder | Trades | $60,773 | San Jose | $67,560 | 13,390 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in California
California hosts the densest concentration of high-paying technology employers in the U.S. (Apple, Google, Meta, Salesforce) plus deep biotech, entertainment, and aerospace sectors. The state's pay distribution is bimodal — coastal metros (San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego) anchor top-of-distribution pay; inland metros run closer to national norms. Cost of living is well above the U.S. average across all major metros.
$California tracks $4 BLS-published metros covering approximately $2,177,320 workers across the $53 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Obstetrician/Gynecologist top spot reflects Los Angeles pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in California typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within California, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in California is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a state median salary of $235,930. The top-paying metro for this role is Los Angeles at $235,930 median. The role employs roughly 0 workers across California.
38 of the 53 BLS-tracked occupations in California have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 53 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in California is $128,117. The figure is employment-weighted across 4 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $73,210.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For California, this page aggregates San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in California.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in California, using OEWS 2024 data.