California's market is really several distinct markets with different industries and pay levels. Filter by metro rather than by state, and use posted pay ranges — which state law requires — to compare offers accurately.
California has the largest job market in the United States, concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area for technology, Los Angeles for entertainment and logistics, San Diego for biotech and defence, and Sacramento for state government. California requires employers to publish a pay scale in job postings, so most listings show a salary range, and salaries in coastal metros run well above national medians — Bay Area technology base pay is roughly 28% above the US median.
The metros with the highest hiring volume, and the industries driving each one.
State-specific employment facts that affect how you search and what you should ask for.
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