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.
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianCalifornia | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Real change since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $118,880 | $76,300 – $153,190 | -13.3%+9.2% nominal |
| 2 | General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree | $124,390 | $60,370 – $293,810 | -12.8%+9.8% nominal |
| 3 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $134,910 | $64,430 – $300,580 | -11.6%+11.3% nominal |
| 4 | Civil EngineersBachelor's degree | $122,500 | $77,980 – $175,940 | -9.5%+13.9% nominal |
| 5 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $141,480 | $72,800 – $274,660 | -8.6%+15.1% nominal |
| 6 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree | $101,370 | $64,600 – $132,600 | -7.6%+16.4% nominal |
| 7 | Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree | $65,200 | $45,360 – $103,050 | -6.5%+17.8% nominal |
| 8 | ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $76,160 | $46,800 – $140,340 | -6.4%+17.9% nominal |
| 9 | First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $65,550 | $45,700 – $98,700 | -6.0%+18.4% nominal |
| 10 | Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree | $127,720 | $79,110 – $181,770 | -5.7%+18.8% nominal |
| 11 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree | $99,650 | $61,940 – $127,070 | -5.1%+19.5% nominal |
| 12 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $93,660 | $56,720 – $154,820 | -5.1%+19.5% nominal |
| 13 | Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $83,500 | $52,770 – $151,410 | -4.9%+19.7% nominal |
| 14 | Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,790 | $36,750 – $93,280 | -4.0%+20.9% nominal |
| 15 | Management AnalystsBachelor's degree | $101,460 | $61,360 – $174,970 | -3.9%+21.1% nominal |
| 16 | Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $50,110 | $38,790 – $73,700 | -3.7%+21.3% nominal |
| 17 | Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree | $79,570 | $52,270 – $122,750 | -3.4%+21.6% nominal |
| 18 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $193,620 | $104,370 – $326,400 | -2.9%+22.3% nominal |
| 19 | Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $63,000 | $44,070 – $95,400 | -2.8%+22.4% nominal |
| 20 | Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree | $59,250 | $44,640 – $111,080 | -2.8%+22.4% nominal |
| 21 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $97,680 | $60,690 – $156,530 | -2.3%+23.1% nominal |
| 22 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $76,490 | $43,200 – $152,760 | -2.2%+23.2% nominal |
| 23 | Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $49,570 | $36,850 – $102,720 | -1.8%+23.7% nominal |
| 24 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $195,080 | $97,950 – $369,180 | -1.0%+24.7% nominal |
| 25 | Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $77,030 | $41,540 – $158,050 | -0.8%+24.9% nominal |
| 26 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree | $59,230 | $41,600 – $81,990 | -0.3%+25.5% nominal |
| 27 | Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $51,090 | $39,040 – $74,250 | -0.1%+25.8% nominal |
| 28 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $218,290 | $129,970 – $325,970 | +0.1%+26.0% nominal |
| 29 | Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $89,000 | $58,060 – $130,510 | +0.4%+26.5% nominal |
| 30 | Registered NursesBachelor's degree | $140,270 | $101,260 – $213,320 | +0.7%+26.8% nominal |
| 31 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent | $55,400 | $38,060 – $78,170 | +0.9%+27.0% nominal |
| 32 | Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $49,560 | $38,110 – $75,700 | +1.1%+27.3% nominal |
| 33 | Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree | $97,050 | $61,770 – $160,520 | +1.6%+27.9% nominal |
| 34 | Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $54,490 | $40,650 – $76,020 | +1.8%+28.2% nominal |
| 35 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $77,590 | $50,870 – $121,650 | +2.0%+28.4% nominal |
| 36 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award | $60,230 | $41,830 – $81,960 | +2.1%+28.6% nominal |
| 37 | CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $75,920 | $47,490 – $119,950 | +2.7%+29.4% nominal |
| 38 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $180,770 | $101,820 – $341,670 | +2.8%+29.5% nominal |
| 39 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential | $41,090 | $35,610 – $58,950 | +2.9%+29.6% nominal |
| 40 | Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential | $47,770 | $38,650 – $63,330 | +2.9%+29.6% nominal |
| 41 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $57,000 | $38,810 – $82,710 | +3.7%+30.6% nominal |
| 42 | Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $48,460 | $36,190 – $73,220 | +3.8%+30.7% nominal |
| 43 | Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $34,320 | $34,320 – $39,260 | +4.1%+31.1% nominal |
| 44 | Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree | $46,490 | $37,240 – $59,520 | +4.3%+31.4% nominal |
| 45 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,980 | $38,630 – $75,180 | +4.8%+31.9% nominal |
| 46 | Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $49,660 | $39,290 – $77,300 | +4.8%+31.9% nominal |
| 47 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $54,870 | $38,860 – $77,590 | +5.0%+32.2% nominal |
| 48 | Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential | $60,270 | $40,950 – $93,620 | +5.4%+32.8% nominal |
| 49 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $54,300 | $38,750 – $88,210 | +5.6%+33.0% nominal |
| 50 | Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,520 | $37,390 – $64,650 | +5.7%+33.1% nominal |