Jobs that lost the most to inflation in California

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Psychiatric Technicians$49,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,880 – $88,090-41.7%-26.6% nominal
2Social Workers, All Other$63,010
Bachelor's degree
$36,160 – $132,480-28.7%-10.2% nominal
3Law Teachers, Postsecondary$119,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$72,850 – $284,350-28.4%-9.8% nominal
4Real Estate Sales Agents$57,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,150 – $111,320-23.6%-3.8% nominal
5Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,090
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040-23.4%-3.6% nominal
6Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$76,630
Bachelor's degree
$45,800 – $168,680-22.8%-2.8% nominal
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$127,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,910 – $204,160-21.7%-1.4% nominal
8Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280-21.4%-1.1% nominal
9Photographers$47,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,470 – $125,490-20.4%+0.3% nominal
10Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$99,410
Master's degree
$60,420 – $202,740-20.2%+0.5% nominal
11Education Administrators, All Other$99,650
Bachelor's degree
$61,970 – $179,970-19.7%+1.2% nominal
12Film and Video Editors$88,490
Bachelor's degree
$42,020 – $169,810-18.2%+3.0% nominal
13Education Administrators, Postsecondary$125,460
Master's degree
$76,700 – $216,480-18.1%+3.1% nominal
14First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$163,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$121,720 – $204,500-17.0%+4.5% nominal
15Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,360-16.8%+4.8% nominal
16Counselors, All Other$48,850
Master's degree
$39,140 – $99,760-16.6%+5.0% nominal
17Property Appraisers and Assessors$88,900
Bachelor's degree
$56,750 – $141,610-15.2%+6.8% nominal
18Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$49,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,240 – $77,410-15.1%+6.9% nominal
19Operations Research Analysts$102,100
Bachelor's degree
$65,510 – $168,030-14.9%+7.2% nominal
20Training and Development Specialists$75,790
Bachelor's degree
$43,320 – $134,270-14.9%+7.2% nominal
21Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$90,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,610 – $132,730-13.6%+8.8% nominal
22Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$118,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,300 – $153,190-13.3%+9.2% nominal
23General and Operations Managers$124,390
Bachelor's degree
$60,370 – $293,810-12.8%+9.8% nominal
24Optometrists$136,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,890 – $213,710-12.8%+9.8% nominal
25Firefighters$85,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,390 – $136,150-12.6%+10.1% nominal
26Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$100,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,830 – $175,950-12.4%+10.3% nominal
27Pharmacists$164,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$90,560 – $213,820-11.8%+11.0% nominal
28Computer Network Support Specialists$79,190
Associate's degree
$50,090 – $148,940-11.7%+11.2% nominal
29Sales Managers$134,910
Bachelor's degree
$64,430 – $300,580-11.6%+11.3% nominal
30Health Education Specialists$63,610
Bachelor's degree
$49,020 – $113,170-11.4%+11.5% nominal
31Network and Computer Systems Administrators$106,440
Bachelor's degree
$72,400 – $166,730-11.2%+11.9% nominal
32Pediatricians, General$214,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$102,600 – $372,460-11.2%+11.8% nominal
33Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$81,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,030 – $123,380-10.2%+13.1% nominal
34Construction and Building Inspectors$101,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,220 – $161,550-10.0%+13.4% nominal
35Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$103,640
Bachelor's degree
$64,820 – $140,950-10.0%+13.4% nominal
36Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,320 – $83,630-10.0%+13.3% nominal
37Logisticians$92,890
Bachelor's degree
$57,720 – $153,220-9.9%+13.4% nominal
38Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,700
No formal educational credential
$46,510 – $101,810-9.8%+13.6% nominal
39Writers and Authors$86,480
Bachelor's degree
$56,730 – $193,080-9.7%+13.8% nominal
40Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$82,550
Bachelor's degree
$53,210 – $124,400-9.7%+13.8% nominal
41First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$63,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,330 – $98,590-9.7%+13.8% nominal
42Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$62,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,710 – $106,580-9.5%+13.9% nominal
43Civil Engineers$122,500
Bachelor's degree
$77,980 – $175,940-9.5%+13.9% nominal
44Art Directors$137,780
Bachelor's degree
$81,500 – $249,210-9.0%+14.5% nominal
45Medical and Health Services Managers$141,480
Bachelor's degree
$72,800 – $274,660-8.6%+15.1% nominal
46Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$102,840
Bachelor's degree
$59,760 – $161,300-8.6%+15.1% nominal
47Tile and Stone Setters$58,880
No formal educational credential
$39,990 – $99,830-8.6%+15.1% nominal
48Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$74,110
Bachelor's degree
$50,210 – $126,940-8.5%+15.2% nominal
49Computer Programmers$116,760
Bachelor's degree
$70,310 – $172,300-8.3%+15.5% nominal
50Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $118,030-8.3%+15.5% 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	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,140	$40,880 – $88,090	-41.7%-26.6% nominal
2	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$63,010	$36,160 – $132,480	-28.7%-10.2% nominal
3	Law Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$119,540	$72,850 – $284,350	-28.4%-9.8% nominal
4	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,560	$40,150 – $111,320	-23.6%-3.8% nominal
5	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,090	$43,120 – $81,040	-23.4%-3.6% nominal
6	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$76,630	$45,800 – $168,680	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$127,630	$80,910 – $204,160	-21.7%-1.4% nominal
8	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$47,440 – $75,280	-21.4%-1.1% nominal
9	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,840	$36,470 – $125,490	-20.4%+0.3% nominal
10	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$99,410	$60,420 – $202,740	-20.2%+0.5% nominal
11	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$99,650	$61,970 – $179,970	-19.7%+1.2% nominal
12	Film and Video EditorsBachelor's degree	$88,490	$42,020 – $169,810	-18.2%+3.0% nominal
13	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$125,460	$76,700 – $216,480	-18.1%+3.1% nominal
14	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$163,960	$121,720 – $204,500	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
15	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$54,330 – $76,360	-16.8%+4.8% nominal
16	Counselors, All OtherMaster's degree	$48,850	$39,140 – $99,760	-16.6%+5.0% nominal
17	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$88,900	$56,750 – $141,610	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
18	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,130	$40,240 – $77,410	-15.1%+6.9% nominal
19	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,100	$65,510 – $168,030	-14.9%+7.2% nominal
20	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,790	$43,320 – $134,270	-14.9%+7.2% nominal
21	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,650	$48,610 – $132,730	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
22	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,880	$76,300 – $153,190	-13.3%+9.2% nominal
23	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$124,390	$60,370 – $293,810	-12.8%+9.8% nominal
24	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$136,300	$99,890 – $213,710	-12.8%+9.8% nominal
25	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,120	$52,390 – $136,150	-12.6%+10.1% nominal
26	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$100,690	$53,830 – $175,950	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
27	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$164,610	$90,560 – $213,820	-11.8%+11.0% nominal
28	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$79,190	$50,090 – $148,940	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
29	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$134,910	$64,430 – $300,580	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
30	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$63,610	$49,020 – $113,170	-11.4%+11.5% nominal
31	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$106,440	$72,400 – $166,730	-11.2%+11.9% nominal
32	Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$214,140	$102,600 – $372,460	-11.2%+11.8% nominal
33	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,770	$56,030 – $123,380	-10.2%+13.1% nominal
34	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,290	$56,220 – $161,550	-10.0%+13.4% nominal
35	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,640	$64,820 – $140,950	-10.0%+13.4% nominal
36	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,910	$34,320 – $83,630	-10.0%+13.3% nominal
37	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$92,890	$57,720 – $153,220	-9.9%+13.4% nominal
38	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,700	$46,510 – $101,810	-9.8%+13.6% nominal
39	Writers and AuthorsBachelor's degree	$86,480	$56,730 – $193,080	-9.7%+13.8% nominal
40	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$82,550	$53,210 – $124,400	-9.7%+13.8% nominal
41	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,270	$44,330 – $98,590	-9.7%+13.8% nominal
42	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,860	$40,710 – $106,580	-9.5%+13.9% nominal
43	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$122,500	$77,980 – $175,940	-9.5%+13.9% nominal
44	Art DirectorsBachelor's degree	$137,780	$81,500 – $249,210	-9.0%+14.5% nominal
45	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$141,480	$72,800 – $274,660	-8.6%+15.1% nominal
46	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$102,840	$59,760 – $161,300	-8.6%+15.1% nominal
47	Tile and Stone SettersNo formal educational credential	$58,880	$39,990 – $99,830	-8.6%+15.1% nominal
48	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$74,110	$50,210 – $126,940	-8.5%+15.2% nominal
49	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$116,760	$70,310 – $172,300	-8.3%+15.5% nominal
50	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,370	$47,480 – $118,030	-8.3%+15.5% 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 lost the most to inflation in California

More for California

Metro areas in California

By field in California

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state