$47,000 a month in California? Check out 10 of the highest-paying state jobs
The state of California is hiring — and some roles pay up to $47,000 a month
Positions are available in several departments, from health care to investment.
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.
Sift through some of the state’s highest paid positions available on the CalCareers website, as of Thursday, Aug. 28:
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 leads investment decisions for public assets, including global stocks and bonds.
Duties include managing how investments fit into the overall portfolio and helping shape team culture and operations to support strong performance.
A hybrid work schedule is available for this position, according to CalCareers.
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 at correctional facilities are safe, high-quality and constantly improving.
Duties include supervising doctors and other licensed medical staff in quality and safety programs, as well as giving them guidance, support and training.
A hybrid work schedule is available for this position, according to CalCareers.
Program head | 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 program head leads teams that manage investment strategy.
Duties include overseeing risk management, leading economic research and analyzing total fund risk.
This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, CalCareers said.
Chief psychiatrist | Permanent, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: Kern County
- Salary: $33,417 to $34,252 per month
- Application due date: Wednesday, Sept. 10
The chief psychiatrist works in California prisons or headquarters, overseeing mental health care for inmates.
Duties can range from diagnosing and treat mental health issues to planning treatment programs and supervising staff who help provide care.
Senior psychiatrist | Permanent, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: San Joaquin County
- Salary: $31,320 to $32,070 per month
- Application due date: Wednesday, Sept. 3
The senior psychiatrist oversees other psychiatrists and mental health staff.
The senior psychiatrist also helps run specialized treatment programs, takes part in hiring new psychiatrists, advises correctional staff on mental health issues and handles other tasks when needed.
Staff psychiatrist | Permanent, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: Monterey County
- Salary: $30,259 to $31,136 per month
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The staff psychiatrist works as part of a team that includes doctors, psychologists and social workers.
Duties include evaluating inmates’ mental health, creating treatment plans, prescribing medications and providing therapy.
The staff psychiatrist also helps train and advise other staff on treatment methods.
Dentist | Limited term, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: Kings County
- Salary: $19,535 to $30,945 per month
- Application due date: Friday, Sept. 5
The dentist provides dental care, including checkups and preventive treatments, to inmates at a state correctional facility.
The dentist also assigns tasks to dental assistants or hygienists, while maintaining safety and order.
Physician and surgeon | Permanent, full time
- Department: Correctional Health Care Services
- Location: Madera County
- Salary: $26,677 to $29,640 monthly
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The physician provides medical checkups, diagnoses and treatments for inmates.
Other duties include advising nurse practitioners and other staff, in addition to training nurses on medical procedures and making sure care follows proper medical standards.
Chief of rail operations | Limited, full time
- Department: High Speed Rail Authority
- Location: Sacramento County
- Salary: $23,826 to $27,009 monthly
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The chief of rail operations is in charge of making sure the state’s high-speed rail system runs smoothly.
Duties include leading the rail operations team, planning and setting policies and advising leaders on rail issues.
Some telework may be allowed for California residents, depending on the role’s needs, according to CalCareers.
Investment manager | Permanent, full time
- Department: Public Employees Retirement System
- Location: Sacramento County
- Salary: $15,250 to $25,416 monthly
- Application due date: Until the position is filled.
The investment manager handles contracts and agreements with outside investment managers and trading partners.
Duties include negotiating terms, making sure contracts follow all regulations and updating agreements when rules change.
While the position is mostly in-office, up to two days of remote work per week are allowed, according to CalCareers.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "$47,000 a month in California? Check out 10 of the highest-paying state jobs."
