Jobs that pay the biggest premium in California

Each occupation's median wage in California compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where California pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Correctional Officers and Jailers$96,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,380 – $114,730+63.5%
2Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$103,640
Bachelor's degree
$64,820 – $140,950+56.4%
3Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$118,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,300 – $153,190+56.0%
4Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,650
Bachelor's degree
$61,940 – $127,070+55.8%
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$163,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$121,720 – $204,500+54.6%
6Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$165,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,510 – $381,560+53.9%
7Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,950
Bachelor's degree
$62,410 – $129,500+53.7%
8Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$353,900
Bachelor's degree
$179,270 – $427,660+52.5%
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$121,260
Associate's degree
$70,210 – $165,460+51.4%
10Public Safety Telecommunicators$80,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,350 – $108,650+51.1%
11Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$159,950
Master's degree
$103,250 – $202,380+51.1%
12Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$97,170
Bachelor's degree
$63,180 – $123,590+49.2%
13Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$87,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,760 – $132,210+45.6%
14Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$60,300
Bachelor's degree
$39,040 – $78,670+44.7%
15Registered Nurses$140,270
Bachelor's degree
$101,260 – $213,320+43.8%
16Firefighters$85,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,390 – $136,150+43.6%
17Producers and Directors$129,790
Bachelor's degree
$63,570 – $306,850+43.6%
18Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,370
Bachelor's degree
$64,600 – $132,600+40.7%
19Media and Communication Workers, All Other$102,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $170,410+39.4%
20First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$127,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,910 – $204,160+36.5%
21Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$81,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,030 – $123,380+36.2%
22Cooks, Fast Food$42,050
No formal educational credential
$35,750 – $48,750+36.1%
23Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$101,060
Bachelor's degree
$63,390 – $131,600+36.1%
24Construction and Building Inspectors$101,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,220 – $161,550+35.6%
25Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,280
No formal educational credential
$35,530 – $47,950+35.5%
26Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$129,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,350 – $167,090+35.4%
27Special Education Teachers, All Other$103,050
Bachelor's degree
$64,830 – $126,210+34.6%
28Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$86,500
Master's degree
$51,890 – $136,660+34.5%
29Detectives and Criminal Investigators$124,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,280 – $165,510+33.1%
30Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$128,530
Associate's degree
$62,890 – $177,780+33.1%
31School Psychologists$127,780
Master's degree
$97,200 – $160,170+33.1%
32Crossing Guards and Flaggers$50,610
No formal educational credential
$35,270 – $81,440+32.8%
33Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$136,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,320 – $180,060+32.5%
34Teachers and Instructors, All Other$87,460
Bachelor's degree
$47,680 – $129,120+32.2%
35Healthcare Social Workers$89,660
Master's degree
$54,220 – $134,880+32.1%
36Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,260 – $106,230+31.8%
37Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$82,550
Bachelor's degree
$53,210 – $124,400+31.7%
38Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$89,790
Master's degree
$50,750 – $132,870+31.5%
39Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$79,000
Master's degree
$46,450 – $147,300+31.1%
40Web and Digital Interface Designers$136,110
Bachelor's degree
$68,090 – $219,750+30.9%
41Property Appraisers and Assessors$88,900
Bachelor's degree
$56,750 – $141,610+30.8%
42Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$64,890
No formal educational credential
$45,970 – $90,370+30.6%
43Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$63,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,110 – $84,190+30.0%
44Library Assistants, Clerical$47,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $68,810+29.7%
45Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$100,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,830 – $175,950+29.7%
46Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$106,510
Bachelor's degree
$65,350 – $161,910+29.5%
47Dietitians and Nutritionists$98,850
Bachelor's degree
$72,780 – $130,850+29.4%
48Flight Attendants$82,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,130 – $129,290+29.2%
49Web Developers$119,570
Bachelor's degree
$44,990 – $202,850+29.1%
50Medical Equipment Preparers$61,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $85,240+28.7%

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	vs. national
1	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,370	$63,380 – $114,730	+63.5%
2	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,640	$64,820 – $140,950	+56.4%
3	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,880	$76,300 – $153,190	+56.0%
4	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$99,650	$61,940 – $127,070	+55.8%
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$163,960	$121,720 – $204,500	+54.6%
6	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$165,110	$65,510 – $381,560	+53.9%
7	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$98,950	$62,410 – $129,500	+53.7%
8	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$353,900	$179,270 – $427,660	+52.5%
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$121,260	$70,210 – $165,460	+51.4%
10	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,120	$49,350 – $108,650	+51.1%
11	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$159,950	$103,250 – $202,380	+51.1%
12	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$97,170	$63,180 – $123,590	+49.2%
13	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,160	$52,760 – $132,210	+45.6%
14	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$60,300	$39,040 – $78,670	+44.7%
15	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$140,270	$101,260 – $213,320	+43.8%
16	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,120	$52,390 – $136,150	+43.6%
17	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$129,790	$63,570 – $306,850	+43.6%
18	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$101,370	$64,600 – $132,600	+40.7%
19	Media and Communication Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,630	$44,140 – $170,410	+39.4%
20	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$127,630	$80,910 – $204,160	+36.5%
21	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,770	$56,030 – $123,380	+36.2%
22	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$42,050	$35,750 – $48,750	+36.1%
23	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$101,060	$63,390 – $131,600	+36.1%
24	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,290	$56,220 – $161,550	+35.6%
25	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$42,280	$35,530 – $47,950	+35.5%
26	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,040	$77,350 – $167,090	+35.4%
27	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,050	$64,830 – $126,210	+34.6%
28	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$86,500	$51,890 – $136,660	+34.5%
29	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,840	$78,280 – $165,510	+33.1%
30	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$128,530	$62,890 – $177,780	+33.1%
31	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$127,780	$97,200 – $160,170	+33.1%
32	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$50,610	$35,270 – $81,440	+32.8%
33	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$136,990	$81,320 – $180,060	+32.5%
34	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$87,460	$47,680 – $129,120	+32.2%
35	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$89,660	$54,220 – $134,880	+32.1%
36	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,980	$60,260 – $106,230	+31.8%
37	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$82,550	$53,210 – $124,400	+31.7%
38	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$89,790	$50,750 – $132,870	+31.5%
39	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$79,000	$46,450 – $147,300	+31.1%
40	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$136,110	$68,090 – $219,750	+30.9%
41	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$88,900	$56,750 – $141,610	+30.8%
42	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$64,890	$45,970 – $90,370	+30.6%
43	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,320	$49,110 – $84,190	+30.0%
44	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,860	$36,920 – $68,810	+29.7%
45	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$100,690	$53,830 – $175,950	+29.7%
46	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$106,510	$65,350 – $161,910	+29.5%
47	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$98,850	$72,780 – $130,850	+29.4%
48	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,170	$48,130 – $129,290	+29.2%
49	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$119,570	$44,990 – $202,850	+29.1%
50	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,370	$43,680 – $85,240	+28.7%

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 pay the biggest premium in California

More for California

Metro areas in California

By field in California

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state