GCGovComp.app

Jurisdiction file

California employee compensation

Source file: California — State Employee Compensation (SCO Payroll Data Warehouse, CPRA) / ingested Jun 19, 2026

In 2023, California reported 361,373 employees across 162 departments. The highest-paid distinct record was Christopher J Ailman (State Teachers Retirement Systems) at $1,847,621.

Latest year
2023
Departments
162
Employees
361,373
Top record
$1,847,621

What the records show

Department analytics

Median pay and headcount show where payroll dollars concentrate and which agencies define the jurisdiction’s compensation profile.

Largest departments

The 12 departments employing the most people in 2023. Bar length is headcount. These departments drive most of the payroll and set the overall pay mix.

Highest-paying departments

Departments ranked by median total compensation — the typical employee's pay. High medians usually signal specialized or professional workforces (e.g. medical, legal, or public-safety agencies) rather than across-the-board higher pay.

Department index

Open an agency file

Department pages break down pay distributions, common job titles, and the employees behind the latest published payroll.

DepartmentEmployeesMedian total
State University83,047$27,350
CDCR56,943$107,319
Transportation24,030$90,836
Forestry and Fire Protection12,957$81,412
Department of State Hospitals12,881$87,697
State Polytech University11,275$39,545
California Highway Patrol11,005$153,474
Motor Vehicles10,272$59,486
Employment Development Department9,517$70,710
Parks and Recreation7,224$24,870
Franchise Tax Board6,781$69,075
Social Services5,890$77,591
Cdcr/Cchcs5,838$97,259
Justice5,631$89,427
Department of Public Health4,865$87,794
Department of Health Care Services4,647$86,339
State Comp Insurance Fund4,353$93,547
General Services4,069$65,787
Department of Tax and Fee Administrative3,991$86,339
Water Resources3,841$110,464
California Conservation Corps3,786$16,895
Consumer Affairs3,688$70,770
Fish and Wildlife3,649$74,583
Veterans Affairs3,382$58,011
Industrial Relations3,037$87,525
Water Resources Control Board2,839$101,541
Education2,787$77,553
Public Empl's Retirement Systems2,617$86,339
Developmental Services2,502$76,535
Food and Agriculture2,196$54,554
Rehabilitation1,999$69,523
Air Resources Board1,887$114,755
Office of Emergency Services1,623$88,146
Public Utilities Commission1,604$104,931
State Controller's Office1,535$86,188
CA Health Benefit Exchange1,410$64,029
State Teachers Retirement Systems1,366$89,067
Insurance1,317$94,996
Statutory Officers1,302$222,184
Toxic Substances Control1,261$93,236
Housing and Community Develop1,237$82,302
Military Department1,222$76,958
Cdcr/Pia1,183$63,613
Department of Technology1,029$118,665
California State Lottery Community995$72,235
Chancellor's Office901$91,548
Department Resources Recycle/Recvry884$85,960
State Energy Res Cons&Dev Com865$96,478
Judicial Council852$106,193
Department of Fincl Protctn and Inn826$103,747
Court of Appeal799$101,291
Conservation737$108,168
Health Care Access and Information647$89,231
Secretary of State's Office646$69,355
Department of Child Support Service637$99,596
Department of Managed Care622$90,582
Legislative Counsel Bureau593$113,930
Department of Cannabis Control567$83,473
Alcoholic Beverage Control565$82,215
Pesticide Regulation458$88,190
Finance446$109,519
CA High Speed Rail Authority430$94,037
CA Department of Human Resources407$92,161
Governor's Office406$87,024
Office of Systems Integration398$109,782
Real Estate365$88,705
Financial Information Systems for CA Off356$97,682
CA Civil Rights Department354$83,612
California Department of Aging293$82,501
CA Victim Compensation Brd258$72,747
State Treasurer's Office251$86,064
CA. Coastal Commission241$79,588
Board of Governors Cmty Collg228$85,363
State Lands Commission226$88,445
Gov Off Bus & Economic Devl222$74,441
Peace Off Standards & Traing220$82,494
Housing Finance Agency209$85,135
Community on Teacher Credentialing198$85,838
CA. State Auditor's Office182$96,374
California State Library179$76,331
Office of Inspector General173$137,857
Student Aid Commission173$73,180
Board of Equalization173$90,850
Supreme Court163$109,656
Envirnmtl Health Hazrd Assess156$106,817
Emergency Med Services Authority154$55,163
Museum of Science & Industry145$66,487
Health and Human Services Agy139$90,388
Community Services/Developmen125$77,856
Board State & Community Correctional125$91,435
Resources Agency118$83,298
Fair Political Practices Community108$89,398
Office of Energy Infra Safety108$86,554
Office of Tax Appeals Ota106$117,532
State Public Defender104$120,733
Office of Secty Envirmtl Protect99$100,755
State Council on Devl Disabl98$72,256
San Francisco Bay Con&Dev Cm92$63,614
State Coastal Conservancy91$80,345
CA. Inst for Regenerative Med90$134,380
Delta Stewardship Council81$95,795
Legislature- Assembly80$122,996
Bus, Consumer Svs & Housing77$83,255
CA. Earthquake Authority76$86,869
Public Emplmt Relations Board76$127,323
Habeas Corpus Resource Center69$93,309
Agricultural Labor Rel Board69$89,527
Sierra Nevada Conservancy68$73,453
State Personnel Board63$103,607
CA. Tahoe Conservancy61$83,389
California Horse Racing Board61$86,512
Mental Hth Svs Overs/Acct Com59$93,552
CA. Mortgage Bond,Tax Credit58$78,975
CA. Transportation Commission55$92,961
Office of Digital Innovation54$109,472
Wildlife Conservation Board45$99,661
Arts Council44$58,562
CA. Gambling Control Community42$97,454
CA. Children/Families 1St Com41$86,339
Labor and Workforce Development Agenc40$110,274
Legislature- Senate40$122,841
CA Privacy Protection Agy35$86,771
Government Operations Agency33$124,878
CA. Pollutn Contrl Finance Auth32$71,035
Afro-American Museum31$24,633
Citizens Redistricting Community31$12,428
Commission on Judical Perform29$131,281
CA. Alterntve Ergy Senior Fn Auth27$72,040
Office of Administrative Law24$138,025
Board of Osteopathic Examiner23$60,920
CA. Health Facilities Auth22$69,394
Cradle to Career21$75,931
CA. Law Revision Commission21$800
CA. Debt Limit Allocation Com20$72,123
Sacto-San Joaquin Delta Consv19$78,695
CA. Debt Advisory Commission18$85,316
Commission on State Mandates17$86,439
San Gabriel Low La Riv/Mtn Co16$53,472
Native American Heritage Community14$84,246
Scholarshare Investment Board14$75,304
Colorado River Board13$89,191
CA. School Finance Authority12$75,369
Office of Lieutenant Governor12$87,380
Baldwin Hills Conservancy10$263
Coachella Valley Mount Conser9$16,277
Delta Protection Commission9$60,237
Alcoholic Beverage Center Ap Bd9$63,807
Community on the Status of Women8$100,185
Community on State Government Org & Econ8$77,895
CA. Judicial Center Library8$97,361
CA. Exposition and State Fair7$23,022
Brd Pilot Community6$47,876
Commission on Aging6$73,462
Santa Monica Mts Conservancy6$89,630
State Independent Living Coun5$44,902
San Joaquin River Conservancy5$89,204
Education Audit Appeals Panel4$131,787
CA High Speed Rail Oig3$149,140
San Diego River Conservancy3$98,137
CA. Education Facilities Authority3$89,697
Community Asian Pacific Islander A2$119,923
California Senior Legislature1$111,165