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.
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianCalifornia | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Real change since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential | $42,280 | $35,530 – $47,950 | +29.3%+62.9% nominal |
| 2 | Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential | $42,050 | $35,750 – $48,750 | +29.0%+62.4% nominal |
| 3 | Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree | $60,300 | $39,040 – $78,670 | +25.0%+57.4% nominal |
| 4 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $47,720 | $37,020 – $72,830 | +18.5%+49.2% nominal |
| 5 | Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential | $44,880 | $37,100 – $55,580 | +17.2%+47.5% nominal |
| 6 | Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential | $45,010 | $35,790 – $69,800 | +16.7%+46.9% nominal |
| 7 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential | $44,710 | $36,060 – $57,700 | +16.7%+46.9% nominal |
| 8 | DishwashersNo formal educational credential | $37,870 | $35,160 – $45,640 | +16.5%+46.7% nominal |
| 9 | Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential | $42,870 | $35,910 – $54,820 | +14.7%+44.5% nominal |
| 10 | Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $40,020 | $35,340 – $52,670 | +13.7%+43.2% nominal |
| 11 | Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential | $39,350 | $35,190 – $48,470 | +13.4%+42.8% nominal |
| 12 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree | $79,730 | $50,520 – $197,200 | +12.8%+42.0% nominal |
| 13 | Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential | $42,660 | $35,680 – $63,450 | +12.3%+41.4% nominal |
| 14 | Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $43,240 | $36,010 – $57,880 | +12.1%+41.2% nominal |
| 15 | Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential | $37,260 | $34,360 – $48,330 | +11.7%+40.7% nominal |
| 16 | Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential | $37,000 | $34,440 – $45,050 | +11.6%+40.6% nominal |
| 17 | Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential | $35,580 | $34,320 – $44,870 | +11.5%+40.4% nominal |
| 18 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential | $36,010 | $34,320 – $50,630 | +11.3%+40.2% nominal |
| 19 | CashiersNo formal educational credential | $37,100 | $34,760 – $48,950 | +10.7%+39.4% nominal |
| 20 | Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award | $64,980 | $38,180 – $95,280 | +9.8%+38.2% nominal |
| 21 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $134,440 | $58,340 – $222,690 | +9.4%+37.7% nominal |
| 22 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent | $80,850 | $43,240 – $168,720 | +9.3%+37.7% nominal |
| 23 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential | $45,560 | $36,780 – $61,200 | +8.6%+36.8% nominal |
| 24 | Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $47,630 | $40,110 – $61,100 | +8.3%+36.4% nominal |
| 25 | Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential | $36,080 | $34,320 – $68,950 | +7.8%+35.7% nominal |
| 26 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree | $47,400 | $37,870 – $65,350 | +7.5%+35.4% nominal |
| 27 | BartendersNo formal educational credential | $36,220 | $34,320 – $75,130 | +7.2%+34.9% nominal |
| 28 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award | $79,750 | $64,390 – $100,450 | +7.0%+34.7% nominal |
| 29 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $94,700 | $48,440 – $181,600 | +6.5%+34.1% nominal |
| 30 | Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential | $38,440 | $35,240 – $54,310 | +5.9%+33.4% nominal |
| 31 | Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $44,100 | $36,410 – $58,800 | +5.9%+33.4% nominal |
| 32 | Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,520 | $37,390 – $64,650 | +5.7%+33.1% nominal |
| 33 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $54,300 | $38,750 – $88,210 | +5.6%+33.0% nominal |
| 34 | Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential | $60,270 | $40,950 – $93,620 | +5.4%+32.8% nominal |
| 35 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $54,870 | $38,860 – $77,590 | +5.0%+32.2% nominal |
| 36 | Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $49,660 | $39,290 – $77,300 | +4.8%+31.9% nominal |
| 37 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,980 | $38,630 – $75,180 | +4.8%+31.9% nominal |
| 38 | Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree | $46,490 | $37,240 – $59,520 | +4.3%+31.4% nominal |
| 39 | Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $34,320 | $34,320 – $39,260 | +4.1%+31.1% nominal |
| 40 | Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $48,460 | $36,190 – $73,220 | +3.8%+30.7% nominal |
| 41 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $57,000 | $38,810 – $82,710 | +3.7%+30.6% nominal |
| 42 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential | $41,090 | $35,610 – $58,950 | +2.9%+29.6% nominal |
| 43 | Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential | $47,770 | $38,650 – $63,330 | +2.9%+29.6% nominal |
| 44 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $180,770 | $101,820 – $341,670 | +2.8%+29.5% nominal |
| 45 | CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $75,920 | $47,490 – $119,950 | +2.7%+29.4% nominal |
| 46 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award | $60,230 | $41,830 – $81,960 | +2.1%+28.6% nominal |
| 47 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $77,590 | $50,870 – $121,650 | +2.0%+28.4% nominal |
| 48 | Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $54,490 | $40,650 – $76,020 | +1.8%+28.2% nominal |
| 49 | Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree | $97,050 | $61,770 – $160,520 | +1.6%+27.9% nominal |
| 50 | Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $49,560 | $38,110 – $75,700 | +1.1%+27.3% nominal |