High paying entry level jobs in California

These occupations in California ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in California run 10.7% above the national average (2024), so a California salary is worth about 0.90× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in California.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in California

OccupationMedian, California · Employed

1Physicists$207,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$125,390 – $296,7405,930
2Lawyers$195,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$97,950 – $369,18095,770
3Computer Hardware Engineers$185,180
Bachelor's degree
$126,590 – $281,21019,820
4Software Developers$174,410
Bachelor's degree
$105,060 – $272,670284,390
5Nurse Practitioners$168,520
Master's degree
$120,340 – $240,83025,120
6Dentists, General$165,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,510 – $272,73016,770
7Physician Assistants$165,650
Master's degree
$99,380 – $225,19013,600
8Pharmacists$164,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$90,560 – $213,82034,030
9Veterinarians$163,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,850 – $286,3309,170
10Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$160,520
Bachelor's degree
$97,140 – $225,40020,830
11Computer and Information Research Scientists$159,100
Master's degree
$88,920 – $275,3208,440
12Aerospace Engineers$157,620
Bachelor's degree
$104,370 – $220,6709,170
13Electrical Engineers$144,040
Bachelor's degree
$81,840 – $217,76024,230
14Data Scientists$141,590
Bachelor's degree
$77,480 – $224,92039,310
15Registered Nurses$140,270
Bachelor's degree
$101,260 – $213,320338,940
16Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$136,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,320 – $180,06029,830
17Optometrists$136,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,890 – $213,7106,890
18Web and Digital Interface Designers$136,110
Bachelor's degree
$68,090 – $219,75027,090
19Computer Occupations, All Other$134,440
Bachelor's degree
$58,340 – $222,69080,150
20Mechanical Engineers$130,900
Bachelor's degree
$82,070 – $203,62030,530
21Engineers, All Other$130,850
Bachelor's degree
$74,950 – $212,13028,610
22Special Effects Artists and Animators$130,540
Bachelor's degree
$71,710 – $206,1607,410
23Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$128,740
Bachelor's degree
$65,890 – $201,07027,710
24Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$128,530
Associate's degree
$62,890 – $177,78010,110
25Computer Systems Analysts$127,720
Bachelor's degree
$79,110 – $181,77059,060
26Dental Hygienists$124,930
Associate's degree
$102,090 – $151,92024,500
27Industrial Engineers$124,600
Bachelor's degree
$77,900 – $172,87032,680
28Occupational Therapists$124,510
Master's degree
$85,550 – $158,56013,810
29Physical Therapists$124,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,580 – $163,96026,580
30Civil Engineers$122,500
Bachelor's degree
$77,980 – $175,94055,180
31Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$121,260
Associate's degree
$70,210 – $165,46020,900
32Project Management Specialists$120,910
Bachelor's degree
$69,180 – $188,560114,380
33Web Developers$119,570
Bachelor's degree
$44,990 – $202,8507,320
34Computer Programmers$116,760
Bachelor's degree
$70,310 – $172,30011,340
35Biological Scientists, All Other$113,530
Bachelor's degree
$69,770 – $189,71011,880
36Database Administrators$113,060
Bachelor's degree
$62,410 – $178,3107,240
37Urban and Regional Planners$109,610
Master's degree
$77,430 – $166,9507,460
38Financial and Investment Analysts$109,110
Bachelor's degree
$72,840 – $198,28045,380
39Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$106,510
Bachelor's degree
$65,350 – $161,91012,490
40Network and Computer Systems Administrators$106,440
Bachelor's degree
$72,400 – $166,73026,170
41Respiratory Therapists$104,820
Associate's degree
$77,010 – $145,51018,650
42Special Education Teachers, All Other$103,050
Bachelor's degree
$64,830 – $126,2108,920
43Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$102,840
Bachelor's degree
$59,760 – $161,30016,230
44Operations Research Analysts$102,100
Bachelor's degree
$65,510 – $168,03010,620
45Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,370
Bachelor's degree
$64,600 – $132,60099,230
46Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$101,060
Bachelor's degree
$63,390 – $131,60012,100
47Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$100,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,830 – $175,95037,770
48Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,650
Bachelor's degree
$61,940 – $127,070155,160
49Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$99,410
Master's degree
$60,420 – $202,7409,820
50Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,950
Bachelor's degree
$62,410 – $129,50037,300

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianCalifornia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$207,490	$125,390 – $296,740	5,930
2	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$195,080	$97,950 – $369,180	95,770
3	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$185,180	$126,590 – $281,210	19,820
4	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$174,410	$105,060 – $272,670	284,390
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$168,520	$120,340 – $240,830	25,120
6	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$165,950	$74,510 – $272,730	16,770
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$165,650	$99,380 – $225,190	13,600
8	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$164,610	$90,560 – $213,820	34,030
9	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$163,920	$74,850 – $286,330	9,170
10	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$160,520	$97,140 – $225,400	20,830
11	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$159,100	$88,920 – $275,320	8,440
12	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$157,620	$104,370 – $220,670	9,170
13	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$144,040	$81,840 – $217,760	24,230
14	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$141,590	$77,480 – $224,920	39,310
15	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$140,270	$101,260 – $213,320	338,940
16	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$136,990	$81,320 – $180,060	29,830
17	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$136,300	$99,890 – $213,710	6,890
18	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$136,110	$68,090 – $219,750	27,090
19	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$134,440	$58,340 – $222,690	80,150
20	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$130,900	$82,070 – $203,620	30,530
21	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$130,850	$74,950 – $212,130	28,610
22	Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsBachelor's degree	$130,540	$71,710 – $206,160	7,410
23	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$128,740	$65,890 – $201,070	27,710
24	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$128,530	$62,890 – $177,780	10,110
25	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$127,720	$79,110 – $181,770	59,060
26	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$124,930	$102,090 – $151,920	24,500
27	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$124,600	$77,900 – $172,870	32,680
28	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$124,510	$85,550 – $158,560	13,810
29	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$124,190	$85,580 – $163,960	26,580
30	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$122,500	$77,980 – $175,940	55,180
31	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$121,260	$70,210 – $165,460	20,900
32	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$120,910	$69,180 – $188,560	114,380
33	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$119,570	$44,990 – $202,850	7,320
34	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$116,760	$70,310 – $172,300	11,340
35	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$113,530	$69,770 – $189,710	11,880
36	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$113,060	$62,410 – $178,310	7,240
37	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$109,610	$77,430 – $166,950	7,460
38	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$109,110	$72,840 – $198,280	45,380
39	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$106,510	$65,350 – $161,910	12,490
40	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$106,440	$72,400 – $166,730	26,170
41	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,820	$77,010 – $145,510	18,650
42	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,050	$64,830 – $126,210	8,920
43	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$102,840	$59,760 – $161,300	16,230
44	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,100	$65,510 – $168,030	10,620
45	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$101,370	$64,600 – $132,600	99,230
46	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$101,060	$63,390 – $131,600	12,100
47	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$100,690	$53,830 – $175,950	37,770
48	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$99,650	$61,940 – $127,070	155,160
49	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$99,410	$60,420 – $202,740	9,820
50	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$98,950	$62,410 – $129,500	37,300

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in California. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for California

Metro areas in California

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in California

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in California to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in California

More for California

Metro areas in California

By field in California

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state