Top Paying Jobs in California
California has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 2,168,100 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologists ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900). The cost of living index is 106.14 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $2,471/month.
State-level averages. Salaries, rent, and cost of living vary significantly between metros. For more accurate data, select a metro area from the list below or browse all metros.
Highest paying careers in California
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | Healthcare | $400K | $192.38/hr |
| 2 | Neurologists | Healthcare | $357K | $171.68/hr |
| 3 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | Transportation | $354K | N/A |
| 4 | Psychiatrists | Healthcare | $354K | $169.95/hr |
| 5 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | Healthcare | $314K | $150.91/hr |
| 6 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | Healthcare | $301K | $144.83/hr |
| 7 | Nurse Anesthetists | Healthcare | $292K | $140.58/hr |
| 8 | Physicians, All Other | Healthcare | $282K | $135.38/hr |
| 9 | Radiologists | Healthcare | $271K | $130.08/hr |
| 10 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | Healthcare | $253K | $121.84/hr |
Affordability snapshot: California
These are statewide averages. Costs vary widely between metros, click into a specific city for precise numbers.
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Metro areas in California
Click a metro for detailed salary, rent, and cost-of-living data specific to that area.