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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Nuclear Engineers | Engineering | $172K | $82.88/hr |
| 32 | Database Architects | Technology | $170K | $81.81/hr |
| 33 | Human Resources Managers | Management | $170K | $81.77/hr |
| 34 | Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | $169K | $81.02/hr |
| 35 | Public Relations Managers | Management | $168K | $80.76/hr |
| 36 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | Management | $167K | $80.4/hr |
| 37 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | Management | $167K | $80.16/hr |
| 38 | Radiation Therapists | Healthcare | $166K | $80.02/hr |
| 39 | Dentists, General | Healthcare | $166K | $79.79/hr |
| 40 | Physician Assistants | Healthcare | $166K | $79.64/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.