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Average Salary in Los Angeles 2024

How much money does a person working in Los Angeles make?


Average Yearly Salary
115,000 USD
( 9,590 USD monthly)

LOW
29,000
USD
AVERAGE
115,000
USD
HIGH
512,000
USD
All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

A person working in Los Angeles typically earns around 115,000 USD. Salaries range from 29,000 USD (lowest average) to 512,000 USD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in Los Angeles vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.



Pay Scale and Salaries in Los Angeles

Median and salary distribution Los Angeles yearly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
229,000 USD or more
10% of people earn
179,000 to 229,000 USD
20% of people earn
69,700 USD or less
65% of people earn
69,700 to 179,000 USD
Minimum Salary
29,000 USD
Median
105,000 USD
Maximum
512,000 USD




Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Los Angeles range from 29,000 USD (starting salary) to 512,000 USD (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.

  • Median Salary

    The median salary is 105,000 USD, which means that 50% of the population in Los Angeles earns less than that while the other half earns more. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population in Los Angeles earn less than 76,000 USD while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 159,000 USD while 25% earn more than that.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights into how salaries are actually distributed in Los Angeles. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 69,700 USD to 179,000 USD. Approximately 20% fall under the 69,700 USD cap. Ten percent of wages are from 179,000 USD to 229,000 USD. Only 5% of people grossed 229,000 USD or more.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.

In Los Angeles, employees with two to five years of experience typically earn an average of 32% more than entry-level and junior workers in all industries and fields.

Individuals with more than five years of experience tend to earn an average of 36% more than those with less than five years of experience.

After ten years of work, salaries increase by 21%, with an additional 14% increase for those who have worked for over 15 years.

These figures should be used as rough estimates, as considering individual job titles can lead to more accurate assessments.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

The correlation between higher education and higher salary is widely acknowledged, but how much of an income increase can one expect from obtaining a degree?

We conducted a study in Los Angeles comparing the salaries of professionals with different levels of college degrees who held similar positions in various industries.

Our results showed that individuals with a certificate or diploma earned an average of 17% more than those who only completed high school.

Those who obtained a Bachelor's Degree earned 24% more than their counterparts with a certificate or diploma.

Professionals with a Master's Degree earned 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, those who held a PhD earned an average of 23% more than those with a Master's Degree while performing the same job.


Is investing in a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Is pursuing higher education worth the investment?

Earning a Master's degree or any post-graduate qualification in United States is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 39,600 USD to 119,000 USD and a duration of around two years. It's important to note that during this period, any salary increases are unlikely, assuming ongoing employment. Salary reviews are typically conducted after completing the program and obtaining the degree.

Many individuals pursue advanced education as a means of transitioning to higher-paying positions, and the statistics indicate that this is an effective strategy. On average, individuals who change jobs after earning a higher degree receive a salary increase of about 10% more than the typical annual raise.

Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue advanced education depends on a variety of factors, including the personal situation and experience. However, if one can afford the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree, the return on investment is likely to be worthwhile, with the ability to recoup the costs in approximately a year.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Los Angeles

Salary comparison by gender United States yearly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 6% across all career fields.

Male
97,900 USD
Female-6%
92,400 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value


Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Los Angeles

How much are annual salary increments in Los Angeles? How often do employees get salary raises?

United States

Employees in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 16 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate United States
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in United States is 6%.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.



Bonus and Incentive Rates in United States

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate United States
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100% of surveyed staff in United States reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
%
No Bonus
100%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Goal-Based Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.


Bonus Rates Comparison by Career Field

Finance
High
Architecture
High
Sales
High
Business Development
High
Marketing / Advertising
High
Information Technology
Moderate
Healthcare
Moderate
Insurance
Moderate
Customer Service
Moderate
Human Resources
Moderate
Construction
Low
Transport
Low
Hospitality
Low

What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting Cast

Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business.

Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations.

Example:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.

Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant75,500 USD
Accounting Assistant61,900 USD
Accounting Manager171,000 USD
Bookkeeper51,900 USD
Chartered Accountant98,100 USD
Corporate Treasurer152,000 USD
Financial Analyst153,000 USD
Financial Manager220,000 USD
Internal Auditor106,000 USD

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant62,900 USD
Office Manager104,000 USD
Receptionist54,000 USD
Secretary53,000 USD

Advertising / Graphic Design / Events
Art Director111,000 USD
Creative Director114,000 USD
Graphic Designer74,400 USD
Photographer65,100 USD

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer146,000 USD
Air Traffic Controller131,000 USD
Flight Attendant78,800 USD
Pilot203,000 USD

Architecture
Architect138,000 USD
CAD Drafter57,700 USD

Automotive
Mechanic41,300 USD
Service Advisor75,400 USD

Banking
Bank Branch Manager208,000 USD
Teller44,800 USD

Bilingual
Teacher87,800 USD
Translator98,100 USD

Business Planning
Business Analyst139,000 USD
Business Development Manager181,000 USD
Project Manager144,000 USD

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny45,600 USD
Nursery Teacher44,600 USD

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer110,000 USD
Construction Project Manager197,000 USD
Health and Safety Officer50,900 USD

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative42,900 USD
Customer Service Manager157,000 USD
Customer Service Representative41,200 USD

Engineering
Civil Engineer107,000 USD
Electrical Engineer107,000 USD
Engineer102,000 USD
Mechanical Engineer113,000 USD

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer248,000 USD
Chief Financial Officer243,000 USD
General Manager203,000 USD
Project Manager134,000 USD

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef70,400 USD
Executive Chef80,800 USD
Hotel Manager202,000 USD
Receptionist43,200 USD
Travel Agent71,000 USD
Waiter / Waitress37,100 USD

Health and Medical
Dentist259,000 USD
Dietitian218,000 USD
Laboratory Technician89,600 USD
Nurse92,700 USD

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager171,000 USD
Human Resources Officer67,200 USD

Information Technology
Computer Technician87,500 USD
Database Administrator118,000 USD
Developer / Programmer108,000 USD
Information Technology Manager192,000 USD
Network Engineer101,000 USD

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer70,900 USD

Legal
Attorney233,000 USD
Legal Assistant59,600 USD

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist129,000 USD

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer99,300 USD
Pharmacist150,000 USD

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier43,900 USD
Sales Manager188,000 USD
Sales Representative74,300 USD

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher78,700 USD
Secondary School Teacher95,400 USD

Average Hourly Wage in Los Angeles


55 USD per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) for all employees in Los Angeles is 55 USD.This is the rate that the average individual gets paid for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Los Angeles is 14 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Long Beach91,500 USD
Los Angeles115,000 USD
Oakland89,600 USD
Sacramento94,300 USD
San Diego109,000 USD
San Francisco105,000 USD
San Jose108,000 USD

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
92,800 USD
Public Sector+5%
97,500 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Los Angeles?

It is extremely difficult to give an exact figure of a good salary when no specific job is selected, however; an estimate can be provided based purely on the cost of living. A good compensation in Los Angeles would range anywhere between 105,000 USD and 159,000 USD.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary in Los Angeles ranges from 29,000 USD to 76,000 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including profession, experience, and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary


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