A ranking of the highest-paying jobs in California has drawn attention, with the medical field dominating the top tier in a state known for Silicon Valley and Hollywood, where chief executive officers (CEOs), investment professionals, and pilots also rank among top earners.
According to the New York Post on Tuesday, ophthalmologists topped the list of highest-paid occupations in California. As of May last year, their average annual salary reached $347,690 (approximately 524 million won), more than four times California's overall average worker salary of around $80,000 (approximately 120 million won).
Most of the top-paying positions were concentrated in the medical sector. Analysts attribute the surge in compensation for physicians and specialized medical professionals to intensifying salary competition driven by an aging population and a shortage of medical personnel.
Outside of medicine, financial managers, CEOs, airline pilots, and professional athletes emerged as representative high-income occupations. Airline pilots earned an average of $288,659 (approximately 435 million won), while CEOs and professional athletes also averaged more than $200,000 (approximately 300 million won).
Particularly notable were the salary levels of certain public-sector positions. A recent job posting by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) for a Deputy Chief Investment Officer offered a base salary alone ranging from $28,325 (approximately 42 million won) to $47,208 (approximately 71 million won) per month. Some positions are eligible for annual and long-term incentives equivalent to up to 180% of base salary, which translates to total compensation exceeding 800 million won annually.
The role supports private-market investment strategy and asset management decisions under the Chief Investment Officer (CIO). Given that the position demands Wall Street-caliber expertise, observers note that the public agency is offering compensation comparable to that of the private financial sector.
CalPERS also pays its head of global fixed-income investments a base salary of $25,750 (approximately 38 million won) to $42,916 (approximately 65 million won) per month. Some key positions are reportedly eligible for performance bonuses and long-term incentives of up to 180% of base salary in addition to basic pay.
Public-sector medical positions, such as correctional facility medical directors, also commanded high salaries. A medical director at a correctional facility in Sacramento County, California, earns between $33,740 (approximately 50 million won) and $42,090 (approximately 63.5 million won) per month. The position oversees medical quality and patient safety within the prison and manages the inmate treatment system.
Thousands of job listings are currently posted on California's state government recruitment website, with hundreds reportedly offering monthly salaries exceeding $10,000 (approximately 15 million won).
