State

Government jobs in California

California has 4,535 local governments: 57 counties, 482 municipalities, 2,935 special districts, 1,006 independent school districts, alongside state and federal employers.

4,535

local governments (2022)

counties

482

cities, towns and townships

2,935

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

California state government pay plan

California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) publishes the classification and pay plan for California state employees: 2,549 job classes and 5,288 pay grades, effective September 14, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the CA plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Operator, Public Safety Dispatcher, California Highway Patrol 2 classes	$56,280 – $87,672
Accountant (government)	Accountant I (Specialist), Accountant I (Supervisor), +2 more 8 classes	$47,208 – $165,372
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Assistant II 1 class	$72,372 – $93,300
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Administrative Law Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Public Utilities Commission, Senior Administrative Law Judge 3 classes	$127,056 – $192,144
Agricultural Inspector	Plant Quarantine Inspector 1 class	$49,560 – $67,404
Bank / Financial Examiner	Financial Institutions Examiner, Senior Financial Institutions Examiner 2 classes	$59,136 – $139,176
Budget Analyst	Principal Program Budget Analyst I–III 3 classes	$114,888 – $143,616
Child Support Officer	Child Support Specialist, Department of Child Support Services 1 class	$51,072 – $79,092
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Transportation Engineer (Civil), Transportation Engineer, (Electrical), +10 more 12 classes	$77,856 – $208,032
Correctional Counselor / Case Manager	Correctional Counselor I–III, Correctional Counselor II (Specialist), Correctional Counselor II (Supervisor) 4 classes	$87,336 – $158,484
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional Officer 1 class	$53,747 – $110,436
Court Reporter (official)	Hearing Reporter 1 class	$86,532 – $108,276
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodian I–II 2 classes	$33,260 – $57,696
Detective / Criminal Investigator	Special Agent Trainee, Department of Justice, Special Investigator, +3 more 5 classes	$61,668 – $161,760
DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner	Motor Vehicle Representative 1 class	$44,940 – $65,148
Emergency Management Specialist	Emergency Services Coordinator, Office of Emergency Services, Senior Emergency Services Coordinator, Office of Emergency Services, Senior Emergency Management Coordinator, Office of Emergencyservices 3 classes	$63,696 – $132,528
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Junior Engineering Technician, Transportation Engineering Technician, Civil Engineering Technician II 3 classes	$38,904 – $84,756
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Scientist, Senior Environmental Scientist(Specialist), Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) 3 classes	$53,016 – $161,916
Fire / Arson Investigator	Arson and Bomb Investigator, Senior Arson and Bomb Investigator 2 classes	$87,312 – $141,768
Fire Inspector / Fire Marshal	Fire Prevention Specialist I–II, Fire and Life Safety Officer I (Division of the State Architect), +3 more 6 classes	$49,776 – $158,076
Fish & Game Warden	Fish and Game Warden Cadet, Fish and Game Warden 2 classes	$52,428 – $105,624
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Heavy Equipment Mechanic Apprentice, Caltrans, Automotive Technician I–III, +7 more 11 classes	$43,848 – $88,548
Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)	Meat Food Inspector 1 class	$48,156 – $68,700
Forester	Forester I (Nonsupervisory), Forester II (Supervisory), Forester III 3 classes	$83,184 – $154,116
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forestry Aide, Forestry Technician, Forestry Assistant I–II 4 classes	$44,928 – $93,084
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney III–V 4 classes	$95,628 – $202,596
Government Auditor	Auditor I, Program Auditor, Calpers, +7 more 9 classes	$51,072 – $180,108
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Caltrans Equipment Operator I–II 2 classes	$54,852 – $73,524
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Caltrans Highway Maintenance Worker 1 class	$49,224 – $58,380
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Personnel Specialist, Senior Personnel Specialist, Associate Personnel Analyst 3 classes	$48,360 – $93,300
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Tax Auditor, Board of Equalization, Tax Auditor, Employment Development Department, +5 more 7 classes	$56,340 – $115,188
IT Specialist (government)	Information Technology Specialist I–III, Associate Information Systems Analyst (Supervisor) 4 classes	$78,156 – $152,880
Juvenile Corrections / Detention Officer	Youth Correctional Officer 1 class	$53,748 – $110,436
Lifeguard (city / state beaches & pools)	Pool Lifeguard -Seasonal-, Pool Lifeguard, +3 more 5 classes	$38,230 – $52,562
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government)	Assistant Clerk, Office Assistant (General), Office Assistant (Typing) 3 classes	$38,004 – $54,912
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	State Park Peace Officer Cadet (Lifeguard), State Park Peace Officer Cadet (Ranger), +2 more 4 classes	$52,428 – $105,624
Parole Officer	Parole Agent I Adult Parole, Parole Agent II, Adult Parole (Specialist), +3 more 5 classes	$87,336 – $163,416
Policy / Management Analyst	Associate Governmental Program Analyst, Fair Political Practices Commission 1 class	$72,372 – $90,564
Psychiatric Technician (state hospitals)	Psychiatric Technician Apprentice, Psychiatric Technician Trainee (Safety), +4 more 6 classes	$35,160 – $110,028
Public Health Nurse	Public Health Nurse I–II, Public Health Nurse I, Correctional Facility, +2 more 5 classes	$89,136 – $177,144
Social Worker (government)	Clinical Social Worker (Health Facility), Clinical Social Worker (Health/Correctional Facility)-Safety, Psychiatric Social Worker 3 classes	$62,256 – $126,828
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Stationary Engineer Apprentice (Four-Year Program), Stationary Engineer, Stationary Engineer (Correctional Facility) 3 classes	$47,484 – $101,724
Toll Collector	Toll Collector 1 class	$46,272 – $57,876
Urban / City Planner	Transportation Planner, Associate Planner, +5 more 7 classes	$59,136 – $158,052
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Claims Representative I–II 2 classes	$46,332 – $78,804
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (Safety), Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Qualified Rehabilitation Professional 3 classes	$47,988 – $92,628
Wildland Firefighter	Fire Fighter I–II, Fire Fighter II (Paramedic) 4 classes	$41,600 – $79,356

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in California

Fire departments · 581

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection- HQ	Sacramento	3,800	Official site
Los Angeles County Fire Department	Los Angeles	3,550	Official site
Los Angeles Fire Department	Los Angeles	3,346	Official site
San Francisco Fire Department	San Francisco	1,700	Official site
Riverside County Fire Department	Perris	1,300	Official site
Cal Fire - Riverside County Fire Department	Perris	1,200	Official site
Orange County Fire Authority	Irvine	1,152	Official site
City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department	San Diego	949	Official site
San Jose Fire Department	San Jose	679	Official site
San Bernardino County Fire Protection District	San Bernardino	620	Official site

All 581 fire departments in California →

Transit agencies · 207

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority	Los Angeles	1,817	Official site
California Vanpool Authority	Visalia	736	Official site
City and County of San Francisco	San Francisco	671	Official site
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District	Oakland	580	Official site
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District	Oakland	427	Official site
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority	San Jose	379	Official site
Sacramento Regional Transit District	Sacramento	362	Official site
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System	San Diego	319	Official site
Orange County Transportation Authority	Orange	212	Official site
Long Beach Transit	Long Beach	187	Official site

All 207 transit agencies in California →

School districts · 988

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Los Angeles Unified	Los Angeles	21,246	Official site
San Diego Unified	San Diego	4,140	Official site
Fresno Unified	Fresno	3,526	Official site
Elk Grove Unified	Elk Grove	2,793	Official site
Long Beach Unified	Long Beach	2,647	Official site
San Francisco Unified	San Francisco	2,327	Official site
San Bernardino City Unified	San Bernardino	2,155	Official site
Corona-Norco Unified	Norco	2,064	Official site
Clovis Unified	Clovis	1,972	Official site
Kern High	Bakersfield	1,811	Official site

All 988 school districts in California →

Police departments · 464

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 464 police departments in California →

Sheriff's offices · 58

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 58 sheriff's offices in California →

Campus police departments · 60

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 60 campus police departments in California →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in California

Median wage in California for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in CA	Median in CA	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	338,940	$140,270	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	338,940	$140,270	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	338,940	$140,270	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	338,940	$140,270	$100,490
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	311,490	$48,460	$46,170
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	300,840	$124,390	$137,300
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	234,240	$41,090	$39,640
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	177,140	$46,490	$36,990
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	176,850	$49,560	$45,860
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	175,360	$97,050	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	175,360	$97,050	$81,390
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	158,630	$55,400	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	158,630	$55,400	$48,290
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	155,160	$99,650	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	155,160	$99,650	$65,310
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	155,000	$87,570	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	155,000	$87,570	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	155,000	$87,570	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	155,000	$87,570	$91,060
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	137,280	$101,460	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	137,280	$101,460	$96,570
Substitute Teacher SOC 25-3031	115,660	$60,300	$43,690
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	106,180	$45,560	$40,080
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	104,000	$83,500	$80,330
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	99,230	$101,370	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	99,230	$101,370	$74,220
Government Attorney (agency counsel) SOC 23-1011	95,770	$195,080	$134,680
Prosecutor / Assistant District Attorney SOC 23-1011	95,770	$195,080	$134,680
Public Defender SOC 23-1011	95,770	$195,080	$134,680
IT Specialist (government) SOC 15-1299	80,150	$134,440	$119,250

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

California at a glance

Postal codeCA

FIPS code06

Counties57

School districts1,006 independent · 55 dependent

Fire departments581

Transit agencies207

School districts988

Police departments464

Sheriff's offices58

Campus police departments60

State job classes2,549

Sources and verification

U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization