Jobs that actually got a raise in California

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Media and Communication Workers, All Other$102,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $170,410+48.7%+87.2% nominal
2Physicists$207,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$125,390 – $296,740+47.4%+85.6% nominal
3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$353,900
Bachelor's degree
$179,270 – $427,660+37.3%+72.8% nominal
4Special Education Teachers, All Other$103,050
Bachelor's degree
$64,830 – $126,210+29.9%+63.6% nominal
5Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,280
No formal educational credential
$35,530 – $47,950+29.3%+62.9% nominal
6Cooks, Fast Food$42,050
No formal educational credential
$35,750 – $48,750+29.0%+62.4% nominal
7Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$49,140
Bachelor's degree
$35,460 – $77,440+28.0%+61.2% nominal
8Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$60,300
Bachelor's degree
$39,040 – $78,670+25.0%+57.4% nominal
9General Internal Medicine Physicians$313,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,180 – $441,710+24.6%+57.0% nominal
10Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$165,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,510 – $381,560+24.1%+56.3% nominal
11Personal Financial Advisors$130,330
Bachelor's degree
$67,690 – $393,860+23.7%+55.7% nominal
12Veterinarians$163,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,850 – $286,330+20.7%+51.9% nominal
13Helpers--Production Workers$43,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,640 – $62,130+20.2%+51.3% nominal
14Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $61,870+18.7%+49.5% nominal
15Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$47,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $72,830+18.5%+49.2% nominal
16Cooks, Short Order$42,930
No formal educational credential
$35,880 – $47,150+18.3%+49.0% nominal
17Dietetic Technicians$46,410
Associate's degree
$36,810 – $64,020+17.7%+48.3% nominal
18Cooks, Restaurant$44,880
No formal educational credential
$37,100 – $55,580+17.2%+47.5% nominal
19Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$54,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,000 – $85,260+16.9%+47.2% nominal
20Counter and Rental Clerks$45,010
No formal educational credential
$35,790 – $69,800+16.7%+46.9% nominal
21Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$44,710
No formal educational credential
$36,060 – $57,700+16.7%+46.9% nominal
22Dishwashers$37,870
No formal educational credential
$35,160 – $45,640+16.5%+46.7% nominal
23Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,260 – $106,230+16.3%+46.4% nominal
24Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$44,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,750 – $61,780+16.1%+46.1% nominal
25Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$60,630
Associate's degree
$48,240 – $75,860+15.5%+45.4% nominal
26Special Effects Artists and Animators$130,540
Bachelor's degree
$71,710 – $206,160+15.5%+45.5% nominal
27Marriage and Family Therapists$67,300
Master's degree
$46,350 – $130,340+15.1%+44.9% nominal
28File Clerks$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,780 – $78,100+14.9%+44.7% nominal
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$124,220
Bachelor's degree
$58,820 – $214,040+14.9%+44.7% nominal
30Stockers and Order Fillers$42,870
No formal educational credential
$35,910 – $54,820+14.7%+44.5% nominal
31Flight Attendants$82,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,130 – $129,290+14.3%+43.9% nominal
32Insurance Sales Agents$76,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,560 – $165,430+14.2%+43.8% nominal
33Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$46,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,800 – $57,940+14.0%+43.6% nominal
34Sewing Machine Operators$37,940
No formal educational credential
$34,950 – $49,040+13.8%+43.3% nominal
35Rehabilitation Counselors$44,480
Master's degree
$35,940 – $69,260+13.8%+43.3% nominal
36Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$121,260
Associate's degree
$70,210 – $165,460+13.7%+43.2% nominal
37Childcare Workers$40,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $52,670+13.7%+43.2% nominal
38Food Preparation Workers$39,350
No formal educational credential
$35,190 – $48,470+13.4%+42.8% nominal
39Bakers$43,120
No formal educational credential
$36,510 – $54,960+13.3%+42.7% nominal
40Driver/Sales Workers$45,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,320 – $63,280+13.3%+42.7% nominal
41Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,290
No formal educational credential
$35,470 – $61,010+13.1%+42.4% nominal
42Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$79,730
Bachelor's degree
$50,520 – $197,200+12.8%+42.0% nominal
43Gambling Dealers$35,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,320 – $50,810+12.6%+41.8% nominal
44Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$87,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,790 – $129,910+12.4%+41.6% nominal
45Food Batchmakers$41,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $58,010+12.4%+41.6% nominal
46Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$37,870
No formal educational credential
$34,970 – $46,070+12.4%+41.5% nominal
47Editors$98,030
Bachelor's degree
$52,510 – $173,590+12.3%+41.4% nominal
48Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$42,660
No formal educational credential
$35,680 – $63,450+12.3%+41.4% nominal
49Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$45,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $59,990+12.2%+41.3% nominal
50Security Guards$43,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $57,880+12.1%+41.2% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Media and Communication Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,630	$44,140 – $170,410	+48.7%+87.2% nominal
2	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$207,490	$125,390 – $296,740	+47.4%+85.6% nominal
3	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$353,900	$179,270 – $427,660	+37.3%+72.8% nominal
4	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,050	$64,830 – $126,210	+29.9%+63.6% nominal
5	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$42,280	$35,530 – $47,950	+29.3%+62.9% nominal
6	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$42,050	$35,750 – $48,750	+29.0%+62.4% nominal
7	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$49,140	$35,460 – $77,440	+28.0%+61.2% nominal
8	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$60,300	$39,040 – $78,670	+25.0%+57.4% nominal
9	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$313,890	$74,180 – $441,710	+24.6%+57.0% nominal
10	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$165,110	$65,510 – $381,560	+24.1%+56.3% nominal
11	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$130,330	$67,690 – $393,860	+23.7%+55.7% nominal
12	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$163,920	$74,850 – $286,330	+20.7%+51.9% nominal
13	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,970	$36,640 – $62,130	+20.2%+51.3% nominal
14	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,010	$38,080 – $61,870	+18.7%+49.5% nominal
15	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,720	$37,020 – $72,830	+18.5%+49.2% nominal
16	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$42,930	$35,880 – $47,150	+18.3%+49.0% nominal
17	Dietetic TechniciansAssociate's degree	$46,410	$36,810 – $64,020	+17.7%+48.3% nominal
18	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$44,880	$37,100 – $55,580	+17.2%+47.5% nominal
19	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,020	$37,000 – $85,260	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
20	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$45,010	$35,790 – $69,800	+16.7%+46.9% nominal
21	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$44,710	$36,060 – $57,700	+16.7%+46.9% nominal
22	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$37,870	$35,160 – $45,640	+16.5%+46.7% nominal
23	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,980	$60,260 – $106,230	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
24	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,020	$35,750 – $61,780	+16.1%+46.1% nominal
25	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,630	$48,240 – $75,860	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
26	Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsBachelor's degree	$130,540	$71,710 – $206,160	+15.5%+45.5% nominal
27	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$67,300	$46,350 – $130,340	+15.1%+44.9% nominal
28	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$36,780 – $78,100	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
29	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$124,220	$58,820 – $214,040	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
30	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$42,870	$35,910 – $54,820	+14.7%+44.5% nominal
31	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,170	$48,130 – $129,290	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
32	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,120	$38,560 – $165,430	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
33	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,260	$37,800 – $57,940	+14.0%+43.6% nominal
34	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$37,940	$34,950 – $49,040	+13.8%+43.3% nominal
35	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$44,480	$35,940 – $69,260	+13.8%+43.3% nominal
36	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$121,260	$70,210 – $165,460	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
37	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,020	$35,340 – $52,670	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
38	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$39,350	$35,190 – $48,470	+13.4%+42.8% nominal
39	BakersNo formal educational credential	$43,120	$36,510 – $54,960	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
40	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,600	$34,320 – $63,280	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
41	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$44,290	$35,470 – $61,010	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
42	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$79,730	$50,520 – $197,200	+12.8%+42.0% nominal
43	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,090	$34,320 – $50,810	+12.6%+41.8% nominal
44	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,080	$52,790 – $129,910	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
45	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,670	$35,700 – $58,010	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
46	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$37,870	$34,970 – $46,070	+12.4%+41.5% nominal
47	EditorsBachelor's degree	$98,030	$52,510 – $173,590	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
48	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$42,660	$35,680 – $63,450	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
49	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,730	$37,490 – $59,990	+12.2%+41.3% nominal
50	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,240	$36,010 – $57,880	+12.1%+41.2% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in California

More for California

Metro areas in California

By field in California

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state