Highest paying California state jobs? See 10 positions paying up to $47K a month
Looking to apply for the highest paying state jobs in California?
In 2025, the 10 highest paid state employees in the Golden State were executives at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System.
They made a combined income of $15 million, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
According to CalCareers, there were more than 2,800 available government positions in California as of Tuesday, Feb. 24, including 490-plus positions that pay more than $10,000 a month.
California is hiring for several high-paying state jobs in fields including health care and retirement.
State jobs are known for offering competitive benefits and enrollment in the nation’s largest public pension plan.
Many of the following jobs have specific requirements, which are linked below.
Here are some of the state’s highest paid positions available on the CalCareers website, as of Tuesday:
Highest-paying state jobs in California
Deputy chief investment officer | Permanent, full time
- Department: Public Employees Retirement System
- Location: Sacramento County
- Salary: $28,325 to $47,208 monthly
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The deputy chief investment officer oversees investment strategy for public funds, including global stocks and bonds.
Duties include guiding investment decisions, making sure assets are balanced within the portfolio and helping lead team operations to drive strong performance.
According to CalCareers, this position offers a hybrid work schedule.
Receiver’s assistant deputy medical executive | Limited term, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: Sacramento County
- Salary: $33,740 to $42,090 monthly
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The receiver’s assistant deputy medical executive helps make sure health care services in correctional facilities are safe, effective and continuously improving.
The role includes overseeing physicians and other licensed medical staff involved in quality and patient safety programs, while also providing guidance, support and training.
A hybrid work schedule is available.
Global fixed income managing investment director | Permanent, full time
- Department: Public Employees Retirement System
- Location: Sacramento County
- Salary: $25,750 to $42,916 per month
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The global fixed income managing investment director leads a team responsible for research, portfolio management and trading.
The role involves guiding staff, developing strategies, overseeing investing and representing the department to the board, media and investment community.
The position offers a hybrid schedule with some remote work.
Chief psychiatrist | Permanent, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: Kern County
- Salary: $34,420 to $35,280 per month
- Application due date: Monday, March 9
The chief psychiatrist oversees mental health services at Wasco State Prison.
They help hire new psychiatrists, manage mental health programs and help plan how those services are run.
There were also open positions for chief psychiatrists in the counties of Fresno, Madera and Kings.
Senior psychiatrist | Limited term, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: San Bernardino County
- Salary: $32,260 to $33,032 per month
- Application due date: Monday, March 23
The senior psychiatrist provides mental health care to inmates in crisis or in specialized treatment units.
They evaluate and diagnose patients, provide treatment, lead therapy sessions, help plan discharges and work closely with other medical and mental health staff to coordinate care.
Senior psychiatrist positions are also open in San Joaquin County, Kern County and Los Angeles County.
Investment director | Permanent, full time
- Department: Public Employees Retirement System
- Location: Sacramento County
- Salary: $20,062 to $33,437 per month
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The investment director helps manage the department’s private debt portfolios.
Duties include overseeing daily investment decisions, leading deal negotiations and proposing and sourcing new opportunities.
The investment director is also responsible for analyzing risks and guiding team members.
The position offers a hybrid schedule with some remote work, CalCareers said.
Staff psychiatrist | Permanent, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: San Joaquin County
- Salary: $30,259 to $31,136 per month
- Application due date: Thursday, March 5
The staff psychiatrist works as part of a mental health team at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton, providing care to inmates.
The staff psychiatrist evaluates patients, helps create treatment plans, prescribes medication, provides therapy and responds to mental health crises.
Other duties include working closely with psychologists, social workers and custody staff by offering guidance and training on treatment methods.
Amador County, Del Norte County and Solano County were also hiring for staff psychiatrist positions.
Physician and surgeon | Limited term, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: San Joaquin County
- Salary: $26,677 to $29,640 per month
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The physician and surgeon provides medical care to inmates at the California Health Care Facility, including exams, treatment and consultations.
They also guide and support nurses and other medical staff, following professional and departmental medical standards and handling on-call duties as needed.
Physician and surgeon positions were also available in Solano County, Kings County and Lassen County.
Senior portfolio manager | Permanent, full time
- Department: State Teachers’ Retirement System
- Location: Yolo County
- Salary: $18,334 to $28,334 per month
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The senior portfolio manager oversees investment data and performance analytics.
While working closely with senior staff, executives and other partners, they use data and analytics information to improve portfolio management.
This role offers a hybrid mix of in-office and remote work.
Chief of safety and security | Limited, full time
- Department: High Speed Rail Authority
- Location: Sacramento County
- Salary: $18,334 to $20,834 per month
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The chief of safety and security oversees all safety and security operations.
Duties include managing workplace and construction safety programs as well as ensuring compliance with government and railway regulations and setting goals and standards for professional and ethical conduct.
“This position works primarily in the office, but limited telework may be available for California residents,” CalCareers said.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Highest paying California state jobs? See 10 positions paying up to $47K a month."
