Want to know what the highest paying jobs are in California? We pulled the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for the highest-paying jobs in California. The salary information below are mean annual salaries. The information presented in this article is based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (State Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Published 2022).
Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in California
All of the highest paying jobs in California are in the health care field. Surgeons are the highest paying jobs in California earning a mean annual salary of $351,580 followed by Pathologists earning $350,980 and the third-highest paying job in California are Radiologists earning $345,100.
These are the top 10 highest-paying jobs in California.
| Surgeons, All Other | $351,580 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $350,980 |
| Radiologists | $345,100 |
| Cardiologists | $343,370 |
| Anesthesiologists | $318,030 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $309,610 |
| Psychiatrists | $305,290 |
| Dermatologists | $280,100 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $261,260 |
| Orthodontists | $245,750 |
Infographics of the 10 Highest Paying Jobs in California
Top 30 Highest Paying Jobs in California
Below are the top 30 highest paying jobs in California. As you can see below more than half of the highest paying jobs in California are in the health care field. Almost all of the top 30 highest-paying jobs in California require an advanced degree in Medicine or Law.
| Surgeons, All Other | $351,580 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $350,980 |
| Radiologists | $345,100 |
| Cardiologists | $343,370 |
| Anesthesiologists | $318,030 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $309,610 |
| Psychiatrists | $305,290 |
| Dermatologists | $280,100 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $261,260 |
| Orthodontists | $245,750 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $242,260 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $232,540 |
| Chief Executives | $230,730 |
| Physicians, All Other | $229,420 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $227,870 |
| Neurologists | $223,400 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $206,790 |
| Pediatricians, General | $198,000 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $193,500 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $192,750 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $187,770 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $181,590 |
| Animal Scientists | $177,430 |
| Lawyers | $176,610 |
| Astronomers | $175,820 |
| Marketing Managers | $175,150 |
| Physicists | $173,440 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $169,970 |
| Financial Managers | $166,220 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 |
What are the Highest Paying Jobs in California that Does Not Require a Medical Degree or Law Degree?
The top 5 highest paying jobs in California that don’t require a medical degree or law degree are Chief Executives, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, Computer and Information Systems Managers, Natural Sciences Managers and Architectural and Engineering Managers.
Below is a list of the top 20 highest-paying jobs in California that does not require an advanced medical degree or law degree.
| Chief Executives | $230,730 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $227,870 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $193,500 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $192,750 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $187,770 |
| Animal Scientists | $177,430 |
| Astronomers | $175,820 |
| Marketing Managers | $175,150 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $169,970 |
| Financial Managers | $166,220 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $165,280 |
| Commercial Divers | $161,210 |
| Managers, All Other | $160,770 |
| Medical Dosimetrists | $160,760 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $160,000 |
| Commercial Pilots | $157,990 |
| Human Resources Managers | $154,430 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $152,490 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $150,760 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $149,670 |
What Jobs in California Pay Over $100,000 a Year?
Below you will find jobs in California that pay over $100,000 a year.
| Surgeons, All Other | $351,580 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $350,980 |
| Radiologists | $345,100 |
| Cardiologists | $343,370 |
| Anesthesiologists | $318,030 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $309,610 |
| Psychiatrists | $305,290 |
| Dermatologists | $280,100 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $261,260 |
| Orthodontists | $245,750 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $242,260 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $232,540 |
| Chief Executives | $230,730 |
| Physicians, All Other | $229,420 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $227,870 |
| Neurologists | $223,400 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $206,790 |
| Pediatricians, General | $198,000 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $193,500 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $192,750 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $187,770 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $181,590 |
| Animal Scientists | $177,430 |
| Lawyers | $176,610 |
| Astronomers | $175,820 |
| Marketing Managers | $175,150 |
| Physicists | $173,440 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $169,970 |
| Financial Managers | $166,220 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $165,280 |
| Podiatrists | $164,290 |
| Commercial Divers | $161,210 |
| Managers, All Other | $160,770 |
| Medical Dosimetrists | $160,760 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $160,000 |
| Commercial Pilots | $157,990 |
| Human Resources Managers | $154,430 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $152,490 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $151,830 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $150,760 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $149,670 |
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $147,740 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $147,680 |
| Training and Development Managers | $147,520 |
| Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $147,390 |
| Nuclear Engineers | $147,060 |
| Software Developers | $146,770 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $146,450 |
| Pharmacists | $146,140 |
| Purchasing Managers | $145,390 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $145,190 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $144,520 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $144,160 |
| Sales Managers | $144,090 |
| Art Directors | $144,000 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $143,890 |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $142,730 |
| Public Relations Managers | $142,720 |
| Management Occupations | $141,440 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $141,200 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $141,170 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $140,380 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $140,260 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $139,630 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $139,080 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $138,640 |
| Radiation Therapists | $138,400 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $137,600 |
| Economists | $137,350 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $137,170 |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | $137,140 |
| Legal Occupations | $137,110 |
| Nurse Midwives | $137,070 |
| Physician Assistants | $136,920 |
| Producers and Directors | $136,770 |
| Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | $136,340 |
| Sales Engineers | $136,120 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $136,080 |
| Information Security Analysts | $135,200 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $134,260 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $134,120 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $133,980 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $133,900 |
| Data Scientists | $133,110 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $133,060 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $132,180 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $131,800 |
| General and Operations Managers | $131,080 |
| Fundraising Managers | $130,970 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $130,930 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,330 |
| Database Architects | $130,310 |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | $129,760 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $129,720 |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | $129,420 |
| Computer Network Architects | $129,240 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $129,030 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,790 |
| Optometrists | $128,540 |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,300 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $128,280 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $128,180 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $126,770 |
| Veterinarians | $126,690 |
| Electrical Engineers | $126,640 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $126,490 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $126,480 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologists | $124,930 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $124,120 |
| Registered Nurses | $124,000 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $123,090 |
| Construction Managers | $122,830 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $122,790 |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | $122,200 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $120,540 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $120,440 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $120,040 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $119,460 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $119,360 |
| Political Scientists | $119,160 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $118,900 |
| Engineers, All Other | $117,990 |
| Real Estate Brokers | $117,820 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $117,220 |
| Mathematicians | $117,070 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $116,990 |
| Actuaries | $116,540 |
| Genetic Counselors | $115,900 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $115,420 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $115,290 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | $115,220 |
| Environmental Engineers | $115,160 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $114,950 |
| Computer Programmers | $114,740 |
| Hydrologists | $114,730 |
| Statisticians | $114,360 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $114,090 |
| Emergency Management Directors | $113,900 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $113,130 |
| Materials Engineers | $112,760 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $112,530 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $112,210 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $112,000 |
| Writers and Authors | $111,110 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $110,390 |
| Civil Engineers | $109,890 |
| Facilities Managers | $109,590 |
| Industrial Engineers | $109,460 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $109,410 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $109,350 |
| Project Management Specialists | $108,990 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | $108,580 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $108,560 |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | $108,540 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $108,310 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $108,260 |
| Dental Hygienists | $108,200 |
| Materials Scientists | $108,120 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $108,060 |
| Gambling Managers | $107,800 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $107,650 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $107,600 |
| Audiologists | $106,940 |
| Financial Examiners | $106,890 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,850 |
| Database Administrators | $106,250 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $106,140 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $105,770 |
| Occupational Therapists | $105,760 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $105,730 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $105,700 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $105,300 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $105,280 |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $105,250 |
| Designers, All Other | $104,940 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $103,910 |
| Physical Therapists | $103,510 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | $102,920 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $102,650 |
| Sociologists | $102,230 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $102,150 |
| Management Analysts | $101,500 |
| Gas Plant Operators | $100,920 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $100,800 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $100,790 |
| Technical Writers | $100,730 |
| Boilermakers | $100,310 |
| Microbiologists | $100,030 |
What are the Lowest Paying Jobs in California?
Below is a list of the 20 worst-paying jobs in California. Shampooer is the lowest paying job in California earning $29,790.
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $32,880 |
| Taxi Drivers | $32,680 |
| Cashiers | $32,650 |
| Gambling Cage Workers | $32,600 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $32,510 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $32,470 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $32,460 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $32,420 |
| Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners | $32,380 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $32,260 |
| Dishwashers | $32,110 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,030 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,930 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $31,770 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $31,760 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $31,740 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $31,520 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $31,510 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $31,440 |
| Shampooers | $29,790 |
You May Be Interested in These Jobs that Pay Well without a Degree
14 Jobs that Pay over 100K a year without a Degree in New Jersey (video)
13 Jobs that Pay over $100K a year without a Degree in New York (video)
Jobs that Pay Over $100K a year without a degree in Connecticut (video)
6 Jobs That Pay Over $100K a Year without a Degree in Massachusetts (video)
About Suburbs 101
Suburbs 101 is an insider’s guide to suburban living. Get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to live in the suburbs through our interviews with local suburbanites and features on Food, Fashion, Home, Garden, Travel, Pets, Real Estate and Local Events. Be sure to Follow Us on Instagram, Like Us on Facebook, Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter.