Careers in California
California’s regional price level is above the national average (index 110.72, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).
Unemployment rate: 5.3% · Labor force participation: 61% · 18,336,169 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).
Highest-Paying Careers
See full list →- 1Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$400,150
- 2Neurologists$357,080
- 3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$353,900
- 4Psychiatrists$353,500
- 5General Internal Medicine Physicians$313,890
Largest Occupations
See full list →- 1Home Health and Personal Care Aides970,150 employed
- 2Fast Food and Counter Workers449,840 employed
- 3Retail Salespersons376,460 employed
- 4Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand355,500 employed
- 5Registered Nurses338,940 employed
Highest Concentration
See full list →- 1Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse5.54× national avg
- 2Marriage and Family Therapists4.47× national avg
- 3Media and Communication Workers, All Other4.33× national avg
- 4Actors4.06× national avg
- 5Law Teachers, Postsecondary3.32× national avg
Best Purchasing Power
See full list →cost-of-living adjusted
- 1Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$361,407
- 2Neurologists$322,507
- 3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$319,635
- 4Psychiatrists$319,274
- 5General Internal Medicine Physicians$283,499
Strongest Opportunity Score
See full list →- 1Actors100 / 100
- 2Producers and Directors97.4 / 100
- 3Web and Digital Interface Designers96.4 / 100
- 4Software Developers95.6 / 100
- 5Editors94.2 / 100
Sources
Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.