Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
65 Highest Paying Jobs in California (2026)
The highest-paying job in California is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a state-aggregated median salary of $353,821 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 8 BLS-tracked metros. Across all 65 occupations the average median is $135,520, with 51 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. California's average cost-of-living index is 144, so the average median equates to $94,111 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
The 65 occupations below are ranked by median wage across California — rolling up wage data across all metropolitan areas in the state. State-level rollups smooth over the substantial intra-state wage variation typical of larger states. For state-level wage comparisons, BLS OEWS state files aggregate across MSAs and non-MSA areas. The aggregation hides legitimate within-state differences: a job in California's primary metro often pays substantially more (and costs substantially more to live near) than the same job in smaller cities.
Use the per-metro pages for the geographic-specific view. The state-level ranking is most useful for comparing California to other states, not for comparing within-state options.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in California
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across California's 8 BLS-tracked metros.
State median $353,821 · 380 jobs · top metro: Riverside-San Bernardino ($375,400)
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in California earn $353,821 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Riverside-San Bernardino) pays $375,400 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $316,431 · 5,990 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($351,760)
Family Medicine Physicians in California earn $316,431 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $351,760 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $230,194 · 80,750 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($291,660)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in California earn $230,194 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $291,660 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $207,215 · 5,100 jobs · top metro: Sacramento ($395,040)
Pediatricians in California earn $207,215 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Sacramento) pays $395,040 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $202,189 · 83,910 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($301,320)
Lawyers in California earn $202,189 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $301,320 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $192,609 · 44,930 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($231,370)
Marketing Managers in California earn $192,609 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $231,370 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $186,751 · 78,070 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($225,280)
Financial Managers in California earn $186,751 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $225,280 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $185,604 · 245,620 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($213,110)
Software Developers in California earn $185,604 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $213,110 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $179,617 · 22,700 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($220,460)
Human Resources Managers in California earn $179,617 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $220,460 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $177,062 · 20,970 jobs · top metro: San Jose ($231,560)
Nurse Practitioners in California earn $177,062 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (San Jose) pays $231,560 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 65 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $353,821 | Riverside-San Bernardino | $375,400 | 380 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $316,431 | San Jose | $351,760 | 5,990 |
| 3 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $230,194 | San Jose | $291,660 | 80,750 |
| 4 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $207,215 | Sacramento | $395,040 | 5,100 |
| 5 | Lawyer | Legal | $202,189 | San Jose | $301,320 | 83,910 |
| 6 | Marketing Manager | Management | $192,609 | San Jose | $231,370 | 44,930 |
| 7 | Financial Manager | Finance | $186,751 | San Jose | $225,280 | 78,070 |
| 8 | Software Developer | Technology | $185,604 | San Jose | $213,110 | 245,620 |
| 9 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $179,617 | San Jose | $220,460 | 22,700 |
| 10 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $177,062 | San Jose | $231,560 | 20,970 |
| 11 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $173,136 | San Jose | $223,640 | 10,920 |
| 12 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $170,947 | San Francisco | $208,080 | 7,280 |
| 13 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $167,175 | San Jose | $218,420 | 7,280 |
| 14 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $165,977 | San Jose | $199,040 | 28,120 |
| 15 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $160,939 | San Jose | $186,110 | 12,280 |
| 16 | Dentist | Healthcare | $158,683 | San Jose | $207,910 | 14,320 |
| 17 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $152,618 | San Jose | $216,740 | 278,250 |
| 18 | Data Scientist | Technology | $149,542 | San Jose | $185,080 | 33,330 |
| 19 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $148,378 | San Jose | $187,060 | 21,430 |
| 20 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $146,465 | San Jose | $176,120 | 13,310 |
| 21 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $145,621 | San Jose | $171,210 | 61,450 |
| 22 | Web Developer | Technology | $143,514 | San Jose | $201,260 | 22,150 |
| 23 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $142,279 | San Jose | $184,430 | 67,960 |
| 24 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $141,267 | San Jose | $169,650 | 24,430 |
| 25 | Sales Manager | Management | $140,933 | San Jose | $201,780 | 89,290 |
| 26 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $138,586 | San Jose | $168,030 | 26,560 |
| 27 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $137,825 | San Francisco | $142,580 | 5,880 |
| 28 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $135,915 | San Jose | $160,090 | 4,580 |
| 29 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $135,908 | San Jose | $166,530 | 23,500 |
| 30 | Statistician | Technology | $135,682 | San Jose | $202,840 | 1,390 |
| 31 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $134,086 | San Francisco | $160,610 | 28,020 |
| 32 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $128,653 | San Jose | $157,140 | 47,280 |
| 33 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $128,335 | San Jose | $163,860 | 243,560 |
| 34 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $126,532 | San Francisco | $146,760 | 20,210 |
| 35 | Web Designer | Technology | $126,121 | San Jose | $166,670 | 5,960 |
| 36 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $124,777 | San Jose | $136,870 | 11,380 |
| 37 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $122,070 | San Jose | $154,920 | 9,500 |
| 38 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $120,583 | San Jose | $136,950 | 28,750 |
| 39 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $119,434 | San Francisco | $141,980 | 21,810 |
| 40 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $118,257 | San Jose | $130,280 | 47,340 |
| 41 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $118,194 | San Jose | $132,720 | 13,320 |
| 42 | Database Architect | Technology | $117,120 | San Jose | $138,620 | 6,030 |
| 43 | Architect | Engineering | $115,425 | San Jose | $129,640 | 11,920 |
| 44 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $114,732 | Sacramento | $134,990 | 1,240 |
| 45 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $113,646 | San Jose | $144,910 | 40,310 |
| 46 | Network Architect | Technology | $112,510 | San Jose | $133,360 | 21,370 |
| 47 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $111,142 | San Francisco | $131,820 | 3,350 |
| 48 | Management Analyst | Management | $105,378 | San Jose | $136,670 | 115,860 |
| 49 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $103,777 | San Jose | $123,360 | 8,920 |
| 50 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $101,868 | San Jose | $108,230 | 79,590 |
| 51 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $101,101 | San Jose | $141,960 | 88,060 |
| 52 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $99,194 | Sacramento | $103,390 | 121,280 |
| 53 | Accountant | Finance | $98,381 | San Jose | $121,700 | 149,530 |
| 54 | Writer/Author | Creative | $92,731 | San Jose | $118,810 | 1,290 |
| 55 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $88,670 | San Jose | $117,620 | 27,980 |
| 56 | Loan Officer | Finance | $84,731 | San Francisco | $103,000 | 20,360 |
| 57 | Electrician | Trades | $78,460 | San Francisco | $92,830 | 60,820 |
| 58 | Paralegal | Legal | $78,305 | San Jose | $99,250 | 42,610 |
| 59 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $77,690 | San Jose | $124,130 | 11,360 |
| 60 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $76,832 | San Jose | $97,360 | 21,660 |
| 61 | Carpenter | Trades | $76,682 | San Francisco | $89,200 | 83,370 |
| 62 | Plumber | Trades | $74,203 | San Jose | $107,560 | 39,840 |
| 63 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $72,668 | San Jose | $84,870 | 24,480 |
| 64 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $66,269 | San Jose | $77,840 | 53,240 |
| 65 | Welder | Trades | $57,361 | San Francisco | $64,320 | 20,920 |
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 $8 BLS-published metros covering approximately $2,874,650 workers across the $65 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 Riverside-San Bernardino 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 $353,821. The top-paying metro for this role is Riverside-San Bernardino at $375,400 median. The role employs roughly 380 workers across California.
51 of the 65 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 65 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in California is $135,520. The figure is employment-weighted across 8 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $94,111.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For California, this page aggregates San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Riverside-San Bernardino, Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield. 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 2025 data.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.