California is rolling out a new slate of high-paying state jobs in and around Sacramento County this week, with some monthly salaries landing in the roughly $16,000 to $18,000 range. Several postings close in the coming weeks, and many list hybrid or in-state telework options. The openings span legal, fiscal, engineering and enforcement roles, giving local job seekers an unusually rich crop of senior-level positions that come with state benefits and a pension.
Top local openings and pay
The Sacramento Bee pulled together a shortlist of some of the highest-paid state jobs currently posted for Sacramento County, including senior attorney, fiscal forecasting and technical leadership roles. One of the standout listings is an assistant division manager position in water resources that can pay up to about $18,200 per month, along with other legal jobs offering monthly salaries above $10,000, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Assistant division manager at DWR pays up to $18,200
The Department of Water Resources is recruiting for an Assistant Division Manager, listed as Chief of Utility Operations, with a salary range of $16,029 to $18,204 per month and a final filing date of March 11, 2026, on the state job bulletin. The listing notes hybrid telework and lays out detailed application instructions. Applicants can find the full duty statement and submission requirements on the official job bulletin at CalCareers.
Enforcement, environmental and legal roles also open
Regulatory posts at the California Air Resources Board and other agencies are also part of this hiring wave, including Air Pollution Specialist positions with salary ranges from $5,900 to $11,455 per month and telework eligibility noted in the bulletins. Job boards that mirror state postings show the same pay ranges and telework details. One such mirrored listing is available on Indeed.
How many openings and who is hiring
According to The Sacramento Bee, CalCareers listed more than 2,760 open government positions statewide and just over 830 openings in Sacramento County as of late February, with dozens of recruitment notices across departments from corrections to water resources. Several of the highest paying roles have near-term filing deadlines, so applicants are urged to check each bulletin closely for cutoff dates and required documents. The Sacramento Bee has the full rundown.
Where to apply and quick tips
All state job bulletins are posted on CalCareers, where listings spell out who may apply, what forms are needed and whether remote or hybrid telework is allowed. For those new to state hiring, the portal also links to resources that walk applicants through the STD 678 form and other steps. The CalCareers' FAQ is a good place to start before pulling together application materials.
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