California ranks No. 5 in the country for average salary for workers across all employee… more. The average salary is about $51,910, or an average hourly pay of $24.96. That covers 14,038,950 workers.Although not a state, the District of Columbia has the highest average annual salary at $74,540.The typical worker earns 36 percent more in the district than in any of the 50 states. Massachusetts was No. 2 with average pay of $54,740, followed by Connecticut ($52,830) and New York ($51,910).The lowest pay was in Mississippi, with an annual average of $34,770 per worker, 23 percent below the U.S. rate.assachusetts was No. 2 with average pay of $54,740, followed by Connecticut ($52,830) and New York ($51,910). The lowest pay was in Mississippi, with an annual average of $34,770 per worker, 23 percent below the U.S. rate.