Looking for $100K salary at a California state job? These departments are your best bet
Few people take state government jobs to get rich. But state work often pays a good, if not exorbitant, salary.
About 39% of full-time, year-round California state workers earned at least $100,000 in total pay — base pay plus overtime and bonuses — in 2021, according to a Bee review of data from the State Controller’s Office.
Which agencies with at least 1,000 workers pay the highest proportion of employees at least $100,000?
Here’s our top five:
California Highway Patrol
About 70% of California Highway Patrol workers earned at least $100,000 in 2021, a higher proportion than any other large state agency.
The large majority of Highway Patrol workers earning that much are highway patrol officers. Nearly all officers made at least $100,000.
The state lists the annual base pay range for Highway Patrol officers around $93,000 to $115,000. However, most officers also earn incentive pay or overtime pay.
California Highway Patrol Officers complete training through the California Highway Patrol Academy, which requires cadets to possess at least the equivalent of a high school degree and pass a written test.
No previous experience is needed to secure a job as an officer, said Officer Matthew Butler, a California Highway Patrol recruiter in an April interview with The Bee.
“All they need to do is meet our four-minimum requirements, be successful in our hiring process and then that’s what our 24-week living academy is all about,” he said.
Throughout 24-week live-in academy, cadets are tested mentally, physically and emotionally on a daily basis. The department is looking for candidates with a heart for service, history of good judgment and good moral values.
After that, California Highway Patrol “trains that individual from all walks of life.”
Air Resources Board
Roughly 60% of full-time, year-round Air Resources Board workers earned at least $100,000 in 2021.
Air Pollution Specialist is the job classification with the most workers who earned that much last year.
The state lists the annual base pay range for air pollution specialists around $64,000 to $125,000. About two-thirds of workers in the classification cleared $100,000 in 2021.
Air pollution specialists must have the equivalent of a college degree in the physical, biological, or environmental sciences, mathematics, engineering, or a related field. Alternatively, they need on-the-job experience in air pollution work. They must also take an exam.
Forestry and Fire Protection
About 58% of full-time, year-round workers at the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, earned at least $100,000 in 2021.
Fire Captain is the job classification with the most workers who earned that much last year.
The median base pay for a fire captain in 2021 was only around $66,000. However, as the state experienced another horrible wildfire season, most fire captains earned large amounts of overtime and other pay.
Fire captain is not an entry-level position. Captains must possess extensive firefighting experience.
Department of Water Resources
About 55% of full-time, year-round Department of Water Resources workers earned at least $100,000 in 2021.
There are a wide range of jobs in the Department of Water Resources that can earn six figures. The most common is senior engineer.
The state lists the minimum base pay for a senior engineer in the Department of Water Resources around $124,000.
Senior engineers need to be registered as civil engineers, and to have extensive engineering experience. Civil engineers need bachelor’s degrees, though many also have graduate degrees.
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
About 55% of full-time, year-round Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation workers earned at least $100,000 in 2021.
Correctional officer is the job classification with the most workers who earned that much last year.
The state lists the annual base pay range for correctional officers around $59,000 to $99,000. The median base pay for the position in 2021 was about $90,000. Overtime and other pay commonly pushed correctional officers over the $100,000 threshold. About two-thirds of them earned at least that much in 2021.
Correctional officers must have the equivalent of a high school degree. They must pass a physical fitness test and psychological exam. They attend a 13-week training academy.
About the analysis
The Bee’s analysis is based on data from the State Controller’s Office showing the pay for every civil service worker, excluding the state’s colleges, universities and Judicial Council employees. The controller’s data lists whether each employee is full-time, part-time or intermittent. The Bee only looked at full-time employees.
The controller’s data does not specify whether full-time employees only worked part of the year. To cull workers who did not work the whole year, The Bee removed employees who received at least $10,000 in “lump sum pay.” That much lump sum pay is usually, but not always, paid to workers as they cash out vacation and sick leave when they leave state service. The Bee also removed the records of full-time employees who made less than $25,000 in base pay during 2021, which is less than the minimum wage in the state.
This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.