State profile · CA
Healthcare wages in California
Median pay, take-home after state tax, and WageBench Score ranking for 55 healthcare occupations in California.
CRISIS PAY WATCH · FEMA
5 active disasters in California· Chemical · Fire
- 2-7 FIRE
- BAIN FIRE
- CANYON FIRE
- + 2 more declarations
Active disaster declarations often drive temporary surges in travel-nurse, RT, and crisis-response pay rates. Recruiters may offer sign-on bonuses or premium hourly rates for crisis assignments. WageBench base wages do not include these premiums.
See full active disaster overlay →Latest declared 2026-05-25
State tax (avg)
6.0%
Effective middle-income rate
Cost of living
111
RPP index (100 = national avg)
NLC compact
Not a member
Nurse Licensure Compact
Avg WageBench Score
63
Across 55 occupations
HIGHEST MEDIAN
Top-paying healthcare roles
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$400,150
- Neurologists$357,080
- Psychiatrists$353,500
- General Internal Medicine Physicians$313,890
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists$301,240
LOWEST MEDIAN
Lowest-paying healthcare roles
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,320
- Physical Therapist Aides$38,330
- Occupational Therapy Aides$43,480
- Paramedics$46,380
- Dietetic Technicians$46,410
Every healthcare occupation in California
Sortable by median wage, take-home after tax, or composite WageBench Score. Click any occupation for the full detail page.
55 occupations · page 1 of 2
| Occupation | Category | Annual Median | Take-Home | WageBench Score ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Medicine Technologists | allied | $162,380 | $152,637 | 71 |
| Recreational Therapists | allied | $98,170 | $92,280 | 70 |
| Radiation Therapists | allied | $166,450 | $156,463 | 70 |
| Nurse Midwives | nursing | $203,840 | $191,610 | 69 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | allied | $121,260 | $113,984 | 69 |
| Registered Nurses | nursing | $140,270 | $131,854 | 68 |
| Neurologists | physician | $357,080 | $335,655 | 68 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | allied | $128,530 | $120,818 | 66 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | physician | $400,150 | $376,141 | 66 |
| Surgical Technologists | allied | $81,310 | $76,431 | 65 |
| Psychiatrists | physician | $353,500 | $332,290 | 65 |
| Nurse Practitioners | nursing | $168,520 | $158,409 | 65 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | nursing | $79,750 | $74,965 | 65 |
| Occupational Therapists | allied | $124,510 | $117,039 | 65 |
| Respiratory Therapists | allied | $104,820 | $98,531 | 65 |
| Veterinarians | allied | $163,920 | $154,085 | 65 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | allied | $124,000 | $116,560 | 65 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | allied | $60,630 | $56,992 | 65 |
| Orderlies | support | $49,920 | $46,925 | 65 |
| Phlebotomists | support | $56,040 | $52,678 | 65 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | support | $83,110 | $78,123 | 64 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | allied | $76,010 | $71,449 | 64 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | physician | $313,890 | $295,057 | 64 |
| Audiologists | allied | $114,910 | $108,015 | 64 |
| Physical Therapists | allied | $124,190 | $116,739 | 64 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | nursing | $292,410 | $274,865 | 64 |
| Physician Assistants | physician | $165,650 | $155,711 | 64 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | allied | $54,490 | $51,221 | 64 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | allied | $118,970 | $111,832 | 64 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | allied | $55,110 | $51,803 | 64 |
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Pro tier
Travel ROI report — Registered Nurses
Take-home, stipend math, license context, and 5-state comparison for Registered Nurses in California.
Employer tier
Multi-state comparison — Registered Nurses
Side-by-side comp comparison for California against neighbouring + top-paying states.