Average salary in California
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
The average salary in California is $80,690 a year and the median is $58,240, across 18,213,700 jobs (BLS May 2025). California ranks #5 of 51 for average pay.
| Average (mean) salary | $80,690 |
| Median salary | $58,240 |
| Median hourly wage | $28.00 |
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $35,950 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $159,080 |
| Take-home on the average salary (single, 2026) | $61,287 |
Highest-paying jobs in California
- Airline Pilot: $353,900
- Physician: $281,590
- Family Medicine Physician: $252,010
- Chief Executive: $218,600
- Computer and Information Systems Manager: $218,290
- Architectural and Engineering Manager: $210,280
- Natural Sciences Manager: $210,230
- Lawyer: $195,080
- Marketing Manager: $193,620
- Financial Manager: $180,770
- Manager: $174,560
- Software Engineer: $174,410
- Human Resources Manager: $170,080
- Nurse Practitioner: $168,520
- Dentist: $165,950
- Physician Assistant: $165,650
- Health Specialties Teacher: $165,110
- Pharmacist: $164,610
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective: $163,960
- Veterinarian: $163,920
Most common jobs in California
| Job | Employed | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | 970,150 | $34,320 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | 449,840 | $42,280 |
| Retail Salesperson | 376,460 | $38,440 |
| Laborer and Freight | 355,500 | $44,710 |
| Registered Nurse | 338,940 | $140,270 |
| Cashier | 336,110 | $37,100 |
| Office Clerk | 311,490 | $48,460 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | 310,870 | $42,870 |
| General and Operations Manager | 300,840 | $124,390 |
| Software Engineer | 284,390 | $174,410 |
| Janitor and Cleaner | 234,240 | $41,090 |
| Waiter and Waitress | 229,970 | $36,080 |
| Truck Driver | 205,090 | $60,230 |
| Security Guard | 199,480 | $43,240 |
| Teaching Assistant | 177,140 | $46,490 |
Estimate your own paycheck with the California paycheck calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all occupations). Highest-paying list covers the 300 largest occupations nationally.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in California?
$80,690 a year (mean of all jobs), with a median of $58,240 ($28.00/hour), per BLS May 2025. California ranks #5 of 51.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
Airline Pilot ($353,900), Physician ($281,590), Family Medicine Physician ($252,010), among the 300 most common occupations.
What is a good salary in California?
Earning more than the median of $58,240 puts you above half of California workers; the top 10% earn over $159,080.