Is California a good state for your salary to go far?

California ranks #11 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 103.3 across 371 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 110.7 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in California?

California's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 110.7, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / California

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in California

California ranks #11 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 103.3, base = 100). Cost of living 110.7 (US = 100); top income tax 13.30%.

Does a salary go further in California? (cost of living + state tax)

In California, the cost of living is 110.7 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 103.3 across 371 occupations, ranking it #11 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

California ranks #11 of 51 states. Mean across 371 occupations; 100 = the average state, 103.3 means pay goes 3.3% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

103.3

Real pay by occupation in California (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Producers and Directors	$129,790	$110,045	157.8
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors	$102,030	$87,304	149.5
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$130,490	$110,618	147.2
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	$131,210	$111,208	140.3
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$96,370	$82,667	139.7
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$118,880	$101,107	137.8
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$163,960	$138,036	136.5
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	$60,300	$52,914	136.2
Nuclear Medicine Technologists	$162,380	$136,742	136.1
Education Teachers, Postsecondary	$111,850	$95,348	133.8
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	$165,110	$138,978	132.4
Public Safety Telecommunicators	$80,120	$69,356	129.4
Firefighters	$85,120	$73,452	128.6
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	$121,260	$103,057	128.2
Registered Nurses	$140,270	$118,630	127.5
Special Education Teachers, Middle School	$101,530	$86,894	127.4
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$129,150	$109,520	127.2
Editors	$98,030	$84,027	127.1
School Psychologists	$127,780	$108,398	126.7
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$99,650	$85,354	126.4
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	$127,630	$108,275	125.2
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$98,950	$84,781	124.7
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$101,370	$86,763	124.4
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	$101,060	$86,509	124.2
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	$97,170	$83,323	123.9
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators	$83,130	$71,822	123.9
Lawyers	$195,080	$163,529	123.4
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	$159,950	$134,751	123.3
Fast Food and Counter Workers	$42,280	$37,551	122.4
Surveying and Mapping Technicians	$78,110	$67,709	121.3
Construction and Building Inspectors	$101,290	$86,698	120.6
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	$79,000	$68,438	120.4
Surveyors	$105,330	$90,007	120.4
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$124,840	$105,990	118.7
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	$97,980	$83,986	118.7
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	$42,720	$37,933	118.5
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	$87,160	$75,123	118.3
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	$81,770	$70,707	118.3
Cooks, Fast Food	$42,050	$37,352	117.5
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	$46,490	$41,189	116.7

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 371 BLS publishes for California. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (110.7, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In California, a $85,000 salary is worth about $66,560 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $11,305 (≈ top marginal 13.30% (upper bound)) · take-home $73,695 · BEA cost of living 110.7 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $29,392 gain over California.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

California real pay — FAQ

Is California a good state for your salary to go far?: California ranks #11 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 103.3 across 371 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 110.7 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in California?: California's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 110.7, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for California is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.