California has a state income tax rate of up to 13.3%. The highest paying profession in California is Surgeon at $531,850/year. Select any profession below for a full city, experience and take-home pay breakdown.
The table below shows median annual salaries for 50+ professions in California, ranked from highest to lowest. All figures are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 release, refreshed for 2026. Click any profession for a full breakdown including city-level data, experience levels and a take-home pay calculator.
| Profession | Category | Annual Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | Healthcare | $531,850 | $255.70 |
| Pilot | Transport | $301,450 | $144.93 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $199,750 | $96.03 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $196,350 | $94.40 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $187,250 | $90.02 |
| Financial Advisor | Finance | $150,350 | $72.28 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $147,550 | $70.94 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $145,550 | $69.98 |
| Network Administrator | Technology | $140,150 | $67.38 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $122,900 | $59.09 |
| Accountant | Finance | $120,600 | $57.98 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $117,200 | $56.35 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $105,250 | $50.60 |
| Police Officer | Public Safety | $104,450 | $50.22 |
| Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $104,050 | $50.02 |
| Plumber | Trades | $95,950 | $46.13 |
| School Counselor | Education | $95,750 | $46.03 |
| Teacher | Education | $93,350 | $44.88 |
| Electrician | Trades | $93,000 | $44.71 |
| Librarian | Education | $92,400 | $44.42 |
| Court Reporter | Legal | $92,200 | $44.33 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $89,400 | $42.98 |
| HVAC Technician | Trades | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Real Estate Agent | Business | $85,500 | $41.11 |
| Firefighter | Public Safety | $85,050 | $40.89 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Trades | $84,950 | $40.84 |
| Truck Driver | Transport | $82,000 | $39.42 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Healthcare | $81,850 | $39.35 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $80,700 | $38.80 |
| Correctional Officer | Public Safety | $79,850 | $38.39 |
| Social Worker | Social Services | $78,150 | $37.57 |
| Mason | Trades | $76,100 | $36.59 |
| Roofer | Trades | $75,550 | $36.32 |
| Paramedic | Public Safety | $75,300 | $36.20 |
| Solar Installer | Trades | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Bookkeeper | Business | $71,400 | $34.33 |
| Welder | Trades | $71,000 | $34.13 |
| Dispatcher | Transport | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| Painter | Trades | $70,750 | $34.01 |
| Bus Driver | Transport | $69,100 | $33.22 |
| Delivery Driver | Transport | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Dental Assistant | Healthcare | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $61,450 | $29.54 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Healthcare | $60,850 | $29.25 |
| Veterinary Technician | Healthcare | $58,650 | $28.20 |
| EMT | Public Safety | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| Cosmetologist | Personal Services | $50,450 | $24.25 |
| Teaching Assistant | Education | $47,450 | $22.81 |