SOC 29-1249 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Surgeons, All Other — California
California · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Surgeons, All Other in California is $131,990 per year, substantially below the national median of $414,010 — a gap of 68.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Surgeons, All Other in California is $131,990 per year, substantially below the national median of $414,010 — a gap of 68.1%. Pay ranges from under $88,730 at the tenth percentile to more than $475,310 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $128,660 to $392,320.
Among the 47 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 47th by median wage. Oxnard leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $535,800. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 89th of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $88,730 | −78.6% |
| 25th | $128,660 | −68.9% |
| Median (50th) | $131,990 | −68.1% |
| 75th | $392,320 | −5.2% |
| 90th | $475,310 | +14.8% |
| Mean | $255,620 | −38.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxnard | $535,800 | — | |
| 2 | Sacramento | $239,200 | — | |
| 3 | Riverside | $80,750 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $131,990 buys what $119,232 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 71.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$131,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$119,232US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $131,990 a year, 68.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $88,730 to $475,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 47th of 47 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Oxnard, at $535,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Surgeons, All Other in California?
The median annual wage is $131,990, or $63.46 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $414,010, so pay in California is 68.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $475,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $88,730 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Oxnard, at $535,800 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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