183 Jobs That Pay Over $100K in California (2024)

There are 183 occupations in California with a median salary above $100K per year. The highest-paying is Chief Executives at $231,080/year. Based on 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024

$50K+ $75K+ $100K+ $150K+

183
Jobs Over $100K

$231,080

#1: Chief Executives

$130,937

Avg of Qualifying Jobs

3,522,500

Workers in These Jobs

All 183 Jobs Paying Over $100K in California

Ranked by median annual salary. Click any job to see the full salary breakdown.

#	Occupation	Median Salary	Mean Salary	Workers
1	Chief Executives	$231,080	$281,030	38,920
2	Family Medicine Physicians	$228,970	$251,640	15,480
3	Dermatologists	$226,050	$313,330	700
4	Emergency Medicine Physicians	$224,540	$212,300	7,130
5	Dentists, All Other Specialists	$219,790	$249,610	910
6	Computer and Information Systems Managers	$210,490	$217,030	98,430
7	Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons	$205,390	$221,820	380
8	Pediatricians, General	$204,400	$208,670	4,350
9	Natural Sciences Managers	$198,580	$208,330	14,080
10	Architectural and Engineering Managers	$197,420	$201,480	35,630
11	Nurse Midwives	$189,770	$183,740	890
12	Podiatrists	$186,040	$187,750	850
13	Lawyers	$185,050	$213,860	94,300
14	Physicists	$178,700	$176,610	5,080
15	Computer and Information Research Scientists	$175,530	$187,420	7,560
16	Marketing Managers	$174,480	$192,730	59,830
17	Financial Managers	$169,780	$196,670	97,400
18	Computer Hardware Engineers	$169,700	$173,270	29,930
19	Software Developers	$168,660	$173,780	304,390
20	Managers, All Other	$168,600	$181,760	101,230
21	Dentists, General	$167,010	$181,720	18,820
22	Human Resources Managers	$166,920	$182,460	27,980
23	First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$165,370	$161,180	8,890
24	Nurse Practitioners	$164,050	$161,540	21,740
25	Radiologists	$163,440	$261,020	2,400
26	Database Architects	$162,250	$162,660	6,120
27	Pharmacists	$160,950	$157,280	35,980
28	Air Traffic Controllers	$160,490	$150,060	2,490
29	Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary	$159,450	$168,700	300
30	Physician Assistants	$157,490	$153,960	12,880
31	Radiation Therapists	$156,310	$153,040	980
32	Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other	$155,150	$138,840	440
33	Compensation and Benefits Managers	$154,530	$166,620	2,990
34	Purchasing Managers	$153,510	$159,470	7,540
35	Public Relations Managers	$150,500	$170,470	9,580
36	Training and Development Managers	$149,990	$168,130	6,140
37	Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	$145,080	$150,490	19,060
38	Computer Network Architects	$144,980	$153,300	17,560
39	Psychologists, All Other	$143,350	$134,360	1,370
40	Mathematicians	$141,290	$131,560	250
41	Geography Teachers, Postsecondary	$140,370	$153,210	390
42	Advertising and Promotions Managers	$140,360	$175,080	2,880
43	Nuclear Medicine Technologists	$139,970	$144,490	1,370
44	Medical and Health Services Managers	$139,430	$156,140	57,310
45	Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$139,150	$152,390	3,330
46	Electrical Engineers	$139,140	$147,340	28,170
47	Astronomers	$138,970	$145,560	220
48	Economics Teachers, Postsecondary	$137,540	$158,130	980
49	Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	$137,480	$136,300	240
50	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	$136,040	$134,690	6,310
51	Animal Scientists	$135,730	$129,670	130
52	Information Security Analysts	$135,250	$140,730	16,510
53	Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators	$135,160	$114,010	2,570
54	Communications Teachers, Postsecondary	$134,920	$144,610	2,710
55	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	$134,480	$141,370	29,380
56	Petroleum Engineers	$134,330	$139,840	1,550
57	Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers	$134,320	$126,110	2,080
58	Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers	$134,090	$127,130	990
59	Optometrists	$134,020	$137,330	6,190
60	Registered Nurses	$133,990	$137,690	332,560
61	Life Scientists, All Other	$133,930	$136,250	1,250
62	Data Scientists	$133,690	$140,490	33,220
63	Genetic Counselors	$133,470	$138,540	370
64	Sales Engineers	$133,060	$146,590	8,910
65	Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary	$132,760	$133,430	1,180
66	Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	$132,570	$133,220	2,600
67	Veterinarians	$132,360	$158,610	7,690
68	Sales Managers	$131,740	$152,030	113,910
69	Aerospace Engineers	$130,720	$143,050	11,130
70	Art Directors	$130,610	$148,060	11,340
71	Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary	$130,610	$141,870	70
72	Special Effects Artists and Animators	$130,460	$133,610	13,470
73	Materials Scientists	$130,260	$135,150	790
74	Fundraising Managers	$129,480	$154,200	4,510
75	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	$129,400	$132,750	32,940
76	Industrial Production Managers	$128,890	$140,130	24,590
77	Engineers, All Other	$128,620	$136,040	31,490
78	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	$128,320	$129,330	22,520
79	Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$128,080	$141,290	4,120
80	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors	$127,990	$128,560	2,230
81	Biochemists and Biophysicists	$127,940	$137,360	6,170
82	Web and Digital Interface Designers	$127,760	$137,180	25,370
83	Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary	$127,390	$134,610	820
84	Physical Scientists, All Other	$126,910	$139,210	2,470
85	Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$126,450	$132,410	11,840
86	Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary	$126,280	$134,780	1,140
87	Education Administrators, Postsecondary	$125,990	$140,700	13,920
88	Statisticians	$125,860	$129,290	2,800
89	Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary	$125,770	$142,000	1,730
90	Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary	$125,700	$136,390	1,990
91	Physics Teachers, Postsecondary	$125,440	$134,610	1,490
92	Construction Managers	$124,690	$129,690	36,950
93	Computer Systems Analysts	$124,370	$129,420	49,930
94	Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$124,290	$132,900	3,950
95	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	$123,930	$135,140	36,010
96	Marine Engineers and Naval Architects	$123,920	$129,180	260
97	Computer Occupations, All Other	$123,570	$126,640	91,510
98	Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$123,200	$136,970	540
99	Mechanical Engineers	$122,550	$126,600	27,420
100	General and Operations Managers	$122,140	$155,170	273,630
101	Actuaries	$120,650	$128,060	870
102	Dental Hygienists	$120,640	$118,330	24,880
103	Neurologists	$120,000	$194,000	870
104	Political Scientists	$119,320	$127,460	200
105	Law Teachers, Postsecondary	$119,150	$126,550	1,930
106	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	$119,120	$122,670	8,600
107	Materials Engineers	$118,270	$123,110	3,100
108	Emergency Management Directors	$118,240	$131,580	790
109	Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$117,080	$130,730	680
110	Gas Plant Operators	$116,400	$111,140	750
111	Commercial Divers	$115,890	$134,310	N/A
112	Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary	$115,840	$130,620	1,160
113	Physical Therapists	$115,550	$114,270	24,200
114	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	$115,400	$117,790	4,560
115	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	$115,360	$114,680	3,320
116	Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$115,090	$115,910	10,980
117	Motion Picture Projectionists	$114,910	$96,590	290
118	Atmospheric and Space Scientists	$114,900	$118,580	710
119	Computer Programmers	$114,780	$124,660	20,680
120	Sociologists	$114,410	$115,330	840
121	Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$113,460	$111,770	68,010
122	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	$113,050	$114,570	1,710
123	Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	$112,410	$111,960	9,000
124	Occupational Therapists	$112,390	$113,550	12,470
125	Hydrologists	$112,350	$120,010	800
126	Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary	$112,230	$128,010	2,110
127	Database Administrators	$112,170	$116,380	8,070
128	Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary	$112,070	$121,140	160
129	Environmental Engineers	$111,970	$118,320	5,910
130	Web Developers	$111,910	$121,490	10,590
131	Industrial Engineers	$111,770	$120,960	24,640
132	Boilermakers	$111,320	$101,380	280
133	English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$111,200	$126,830	3,980
134	Chemical Engineers	$110,920	$120,230	1,550
135	Administrative Services Managers	$110,750	$124,500	37,990
136	Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other	$110,260	$121,900	1,690
137	Biological Scientists, All Other	$110,150	$121,410	16,590
138	Facilities Managers	$110,080	$120,850	18,010
139	Power Distributors and Dispatchers	$109,740	$123,240	980
140	Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$109,500	$121,400	1,250
141	Speech-Language Pathologists	$109,470	$112,030	17,270
142	Financial Risk Specialists	$109,160	$120,920	4,860
143	Financial and Investment Analysts	$109,080	$125,220	35,660
144	Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary	$109,000	$123,720	660
145	Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers	$108,950	$118,090	2,780
146	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers	$108,230	$113,530	1,460
147	Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	$108,160	$130,950	10,460
148	Project Management Specialists	$107,980	$117,410	114,640
149	Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$107,750	$123,400	5,580
150	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	$107,680	$127,860	9,570
151	Commercial Pilots	$107,370	$154,340	5,130
152	School Psychologists	$106,790	$109,830	11,150
153	Network and Computer Systems Administrators	$106,450	$114,770	29,130
154	Economists	$105,950	$133,790	1,570
155	Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners	$105,640	$98,380	1,840
156	Audiologists	$105,560	$106,580	1,380
157	Labor Relations Specialists	$105,560	$110,950	8,060
158	Producers and Directors	$105,080	$132,990	44,740
159	Civil Engineers	$105,040	$115,100	49,010
160	Urban and Regional Planners	$104,910	$107,920	7,330
161	Pile Driver Operators	$104,870	$98,640	590
162	Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$104,770	$128,400	1,870
163	Insulation Workers, Mechanical	$104,640	$103,380	500
164	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists	$104,540	$102,230	13,420
165	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers	$104,410	$101,190	3,680
166	Personal Financial Advisors	$103,330	$143,240	32,100
167	Chemical Plant and System Operators	$103,300	$96,920	270
168	Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes	$103,290	$136,450	5,660
169	Surveyors	$102,650	$105,290	4,520
170	Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	$102,580	$105,530	14,400
171	Microbiologists	$102,570	$110,660	3,120
172	Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	$102,230	$103,150	19,670
173	Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	$101,920	$105,270	13,430
174	Gambling Managers	$101,880	$116,360	790
175	Broadcast Technicians	$101,780	$105,030	7,790
176	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$101,540	$105,540	92,830
177	Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance	$101,420	$99,520	N/A
178	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	$101,240	$119,250	30,930
179	Respiratory Therapists	$101,200	$103,060	15,480
180	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	$100,930	$108,330	4,260
181	Financial Examiners	$100,400	$109,660	3,230
182	Technical Writers	$100,370	$109,380	5,990
183	Architects, Except Landscape and Naval	$100,090	$120,780	15,370

Aiming for a $100K+ Career in California?

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California High-Salary Insights

The $100K+ jobs in California are concentrated in Healthcare Practitioners, Management, and Legal fields.

23.3% of all tracked occupations in CA earn a median salary above $100K. The entry point for this group is $100,090/year (Architects, Except Landscape and Naval), while the top earner makes $231,080/year.

California ranks #1 among all 50 states for the number of $100K+ jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K a year in California?

According to 2024 BLS data, there are 183 occupations in California with a median annual salary above $100K. This represents 23.3% of all tracked occupations in CA.

What is the highest paying job in California?

The highest paying occupation in California is Chief Executives with a median salary of $231,080 per year based on 2024 BLS OEWS data.

What is the minimum salary to be on the $100K+ list in California?

The entry point for the $100K+ list in California is $100,090/year (Architects, Except Landscape and Naval). Any occupation with a median salary above $100K qualifies for this list.

What is the average salary of $100K+ jobs in California?

The average median salary among all 183 occupations that pay over $100K in California is $130,937 per year (2024 data).

How can I get a job that pays over $100K in California?

High-paying jobs in California typically require specialized education, certifications, or significant experience. Common fields include healthcare, technology, management, and engineering. Investing in relevant skills through certifications and advanced degrees can help you reach the $100K+ salary range. Check individual job pages for specific requirements.

Jobs Over $100K in Other States

These are gross salaries. After federal, state, and FICA taxes, take-home pay is lower.

More Salary Data for California

Highest Paying Jobs in California · Average Salary in California · All California Jobs

Data Source & Methodology

This list includes all occupations with BLS-published state-level median salary data above $100K per year. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 estimates. See our Methodology page for details.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics