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California has an economy bigger than that of most countries.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we found the 30 occupations with the highest average salaries in the Golden State.
California is one of the largest economies in the world, with a gross domestic product bigger than that of most countries. The home of Silicon Valley and Hollywood has a booming job market to match.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics program, we found the 30 jobs with the highest average annual salaries in California as of May 2017, the most recently available data, among the 762 detailed occupational categories that BLS tracks for the state.
Similarly to our recently published list of the highest-paying jobs in the US, medical occupations loom large. Eight of the top 10 highest-paying jobs in the state are various medical and dental specializations.
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Here's the full list, along with the jobs' average annual salaries and the number of people employed in each one. Where available, we also include a brief description of what workers in the occupation do, from the Department of Labor's O*NET Online occupational database.
What they do, according to O*NET: Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
28. General and operations managers
Average annual salary: $136,080
Number of people employed in California: 225,210
What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations.
27. Pharmacists
Average annual salary: $136,730
Number of people employed in California: 29,860
What they do, according to O*NET: Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use.
26. Managers, all other
Average annual salary: $138,240
Number of people employed in California: 53,390
What they do, according to O*NET: This is a catchall for various types of managers not covered in another occupational group. Some examples include investment fund managers, supply chain managers, and security managers.
25. Human resources managers
Average annual salary: $139,860
Number of people employed in California: 17,160
What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
24. Public relations and fundraising managers
Average annual salary: $140,100
Number of people employed in California: 7,620
What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image, raise issue awareness, or raise funds for their organization or client.
23. Personal financial advisors
Average annual salary: $141,100
Number of people employed in California: 24,790
What they do, according to O*NET: Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate.
22. Natural sciences managers
Average annual salary: $153,330
Number of people employed in California: 7,450
What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and statistics, and carry out research and development in these fields.
21. Postsecondary health specialties teachers
Average annual salary: $153,410
Number of people employed in California: 13,690
What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.
20. Financial managers
Average annual salary: $154,310
Number of people employed in California: 72,100
What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
19. Dentists
Average annual salary: $157,890
Number of people employed in California: 17,130
What they do, according to O*NET: Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums.
18. Marketing managers
Average annual salary: $164,410
Number of people employed in California: 33,380
What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers.
17. Lawyers
Average annual salary: $168,200
Number of people employed in California: 79,980
What they do, according to O*NET: Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions.
16. Architectural and engineering managers
Average annual salary: $169,100
Number of people employed in California: 28,040
What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering, or carry out research and development in these fields.
15. Computer and information systems managers
Average annual salary: $174,790
Number of people employed in California: 53,270
What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
14. Pediatricians
Average annual salary: $182,790
Number of people employed in California: 3,460
What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent children's diseases and injuries.
13. Family and general practitioners
Average annual salary: $196,180
Number of people employed in California: 13,950
What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.
12. Internists
Average annual salary: $199,120
Number of people employed in California: 3,400
What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who diagnose and provide non-surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems.
11. Dentists, all other specialists
Average annual salary: $205,630
Number of people employed in California: 420
What they do, according to O*NET: This is a catchall category for dentists not listed in some other occupational group.
10. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Average annual salary: $207,080
Number of people employed in California: 9,000
What they do, according to O*NET: Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing, multi-engine aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo.
9. Physicians and surgeons, all other
Average annual salary: $214,730
Number of people employed in California: 29,890
What they do, according to O*NET: This is a catchall category for specialized doctors not listed in some other occupational group. Some specialties include dermatologists, hospitalists, ophthalmologists, and urologists.
8. Orthodontists
Average annual salary: $216,590
Number of people employed in California: 500
What they do, according to O*NET: Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies.
7. Nurse anesthetists
Average annual salary: $217,230
Number of people employed in California: 1,460
What they do, according to O*NET: Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia.
6. Obstetricians and gynecologists
Average annual salary: $221,120
Number of people employed in California: 2,030
What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth and those who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system.
5. Chief executives
Average annual salary: $222,950
Number of people employed in California: 30,430
What they do, according to O*NET: Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body.
4. Surgeons
Average annual salary: $229,340
Number of people employed in California: 4,240
What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive, minimally invasive, or non-invasive surgical methods.
3. Psychiatrists
Average annual salary: $259,570
Number of people employed in California: 3,040
What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders of the mind.
2. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Average annual salary: $262,050
Number of people employed in California: 610
What they do, according to O*NET: Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects.
1. Anesthesiologists
Average annual salary: $283,860
Number of people employed in California: 3,080
What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who administer anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery or other medical procedures.
