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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Commercial Pilots | Transportation | $166K | N/A |
| 42 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | Education | $165K | N/A |
| 43 | Pharmacists | Healthcare | $165K | $79.14/hr |
| 44 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | Public Safety | $164K | $78.83/hr |
| 45 | Veterinarians | Healthcare | $164K | $78.81/hr |
| 46 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | Healthcare | $162K | $78.07/hr |
| 47 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | Engineering | $161K | $77.17/hr |
| 48 | Air Traffic Controllers | Transportation | $160K | $76.96/hr |
| 49 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | Management | $160K | N/A |
| 50 | Purchasing Managers | Management | $160K | $76.84/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.