Berkeley, CA

Salary intelligence, cost of living, and affordability data

All 718 jobs →

Avg Salary

$76,105

across all roles

Cost Index

148

Expensive

Avg Rent

$2,550/mo

1-bed apartment

Affordability

4/10

Low Affordability

How affordable is Berkeley?

4/10

Low Affordability

Purchasing power score: 1.16× (take-home ÷ living costs)

With a cost of living index of 148 (US avg = 100) and average disposable income of $652/mo, Berkeley is a high-cost market — salaries need to be competitive to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

Cost of Living Benchmarks

Cost Index

148

US avg = 100

Est. Monthly Rent

$2,550

1-bed, city avg

Avg Disposable

$652

after taxes + living costs

Median Salary

$65,740

across all tracked roles

Purchasing Power

1.16×

take-home ÷ costs

Jobs Tracked

718

job titles with data

Highest-Paying Jobs in Berkeley

By gross annual salary

1.Obstetricians And Gynecologists
$235,930
2.Chief Executives
$231,500
3.Lawyers
$205,900
4.Podiatrists
$193,510
5.Computer And Information Systems Managers
$191,410
6.Nurse Midwives
$190,230
7.Architectural And Engineering Managers
$181,400
8.Family Medicine Physicians
$179,990
9.Commercial Pilots
$177,300
10.Dentists
$176,200

Best Jobs for Disposable Income

After taxes and living costs

1.Obstetricians And Gynecologists
$10,374/mo
2.Chief Executives
$10,105/mo
3.Lawyers
$8,548/mo
4.Podiatrists
$7,794/mo
5.Computer And Information Systems Managers
$7,666/mo
6.Nurse Midwives
$7,594/mo
7.Architectural And Engineering Managers
$7,057/mo
8.Family Medicine Physicians
$6,971/mo
9.Commercial Pilots
$6,808/mo
10.Dentists
$6,741/mo

Jobs With Tightest Budgets in Berkeley

These roles leave the least disposable income after living costs — worth knowing before accepting an offer.

Cement Masons And Concrete Finishers

$2/mo left

$65,430/yr gross

Patternmakers

$11/mo left

$65,570/yr gross

Interpreters And Translators

$21/mo left

$65,740/yr gross

Security And Fire Alarm Systems Installers

$21/mo left

$65,740/yr gross

Forest And Conservation Technicians

$38/mo left

$66,020/yr gross

Explore Berkeley Further

All Salaries

718 job titles →

Browse by Job

Find a role in any city →

City Rankings

Best cities for pay →

All data derived from BLS OEWS metro data and regional cost-of-living indices. Figures are estimates; verify with local sources before making decisions.