Take-home pay by job in California
What 48 common jobs pay in California, and what's left after 2026 taxes. Sorted by take-home pay.
| Job | Median gross | Take-home / year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $195,080 | $127,436 | $10,620 |
| Software developer | $174,410 | $115,035 | $9,586 |
| Nurse practitioner | $168,520 | $111,689 | $9,307 |
| Physician assistant | $165,650 | $110,058 | $9,171 |
| Pharmacist | $164,610 | $109,467 | $9,122 |
| Medical and health services manager | $141,480 | $96,324 | $8,027 |
| Registered nurse | $140,270 | $95,637 | $7,970 |
| Mechanical engineer | $130,900 | $90,313 | $7,526 |
| Computer systems analyst | $127,720 | $88,506 | $7,376 |
| Dental hygienist | $124,930 | $86,921 | $7,243 |
| General and operations manager | $124,390 | $86,614 | $7,218 |
| Physical therapist | $124,190 | $86,500 | $7,208 |
| Civil engineer | $122,500 | $85,540 | $7,128 |
| Radiologic technologist | $121,260 | $84,825 | $7,069 |
| Police officer | $118,880 | $83,425 | $6,952 |
| Respiratory therapist | $104,820 | $75,155 | $6,263 |
| High school teacher | $101,370 | $73,125 | $6,094 |
| Elementary school teacher | $99,650 | $72,114 | $6,009 |
| Accountant | $97,050 | $70,584 | $5,882 |
| Firefighter | $85,120 | $63,567 | $5,297 |
| HR specialist | $83,500 | $62,614 | $5,218 |
| Licensed practical nurse (LPN) | $79,750 | $60,408 | $5,034 |
| IT support specialist | $79,570 | $60,303 | $5,025 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $58,264 | $4,855 |
| Carpenter | $75,920 | $58,120 | $4,843 |
| Plumber | $72,830 | $56,258 | $4,688 |
| HVAC technician | $72,560 | $56,095 | $4,675 |
| Social worker (child, family and school) | $65,200 | $51,531 | $4,294 |
| Auto mechanic | $64,980 | $51,376 | $4,281 |
| Truck driver (heavy and tractor-trailer) | $60,230 | $47,973 | $3,998 |
| Bookkeeper | $59,230 | $47,249 | $3,937 |
| Administrative assistant | $55,400 | $44,474 | $3,706 |
| Pharmacy technician | $55,110 | $44,264 | $3,689 |
| Dental assistant | $50,110 | $40,641 | $3,387 |
| Medical assistant | $49,660 | $40,315 | $3,360 |
| Customer service representative | $49,560 | $40,243 | $3,354 |
| Nursing assistant (CNA) | $47,630 | $38,844 | $3,237 |
| Delivery driver (light truck) | $46,790 | $38,228 | $3,186 |
| Teaching assistant | $46,490 | $38,004 | $3,167 |
| Restaurant cook | $44,880 | $36,802 | $3,067 |
| Warehouse worker | $44,710 | $36,675 | $3,056 |
| Receptionist | $44,100 | $36,220 | $3,018 |
| Security guard | $43,240 | $35,578 | $2,965 |
| Janitor | $41,090 | $33,973 | $2,831 |
| Childcare worker | $40,020 | $33,174 | $2,764 |
| Retail salesperson | $38,440 | $31,995 | $2,666 |
| Cashier | $37,100 | $30,994 | $2,583 |
| Waiter or waitress | $36,080 | $30,233 | $2,519 |
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, statewide, all industries. BLS wages include tips and commissions, not overtime premiums or benefits. Take-home uses 2026 tax rules for a single filer paid every two weeks with W-4 defaults and no pre-tax deductions.