Cerritos Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Cerritos, CA: $30.01/hr median hourly wage, $62,415 median annual salary, cost of living index 144.3, and $16.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
Cerritos Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Cerritos, CA is $30.01/hr, equivalent to $62,415 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $18.61/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $42.61/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.00/hr.
Median Salary
$62,415
$30.01/hr
Cost of Living
144.3
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.9%
rate
Cerritos, CA Overview
Population
49,859
Median Salary
$62,415
Average Salary
$69,905
Avg Commute
19 min
Median Home Price
$777,000
Median Rent
$3,133/mo
Job Growth
+1.3%
Sales Tax
7.25%
Cerritos is located in California with a population of 49,859. The median household salary is $62,415 per year ($30.01/hour), which is $3,031 above the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 19 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.3%.
Cerritos Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Cerritos, CA based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $62,415 median salary. Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $38,697 | $18.61/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $62,415 | $30.01/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $88,629 | $42.61/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $111,099 | $53.42/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) derived from 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics distribution across all occupations in metro areas. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Cerritos Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Cerritos, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$46,526
$3,877.15/month · $1,789.46/biweekly · Effective Rate: 25.5%
Gross Pay
$62,415
Federal Tax
-$5,310
State Tax
-$5,805
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,775
Net Pay
$46,526
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $5,201.25 | $62,415.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$442.48 | -$5,309.80 |
| California State Tax (9.3%) | -$483.72 | -$5,804.60 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$322.48 | -$3,869.73 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$75.42 | -$905.02 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,877.15 | $46,525.86 |
Salary Comparison: Cerritos vs Other Cities
See how Cerritos's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerritos, CA | $62,415 | 144.3 | $43,254 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Whittier, CA | $62,412 | 151 | $41,332 |
| Freeport, NY | $62,401 | 125.5 | $49,722 |
| Cedar City, UT | $62,384 | 99.6 | $62,635 |
| Sammamish, WA | $62,450 | 109.9 | $56,824 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Cerritos
Cerritos's cost of living index is 144.3 (national average = 100). Living in Cerritos is 44.30000000000001% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$777,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,133
Annual Rent Cost
$37,596
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $46,526 annual take-home pay in Cerritos has the purchasing power of approximately $32,242 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $90,065 in Cerritos to match a $62,415 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Cerritos
Cerritos's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $62,415.
Salary Tips for Cerritos Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Cerritos has a cost of living 44.30000000000001% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a 9.3% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Cerritos's top industries include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $62,415 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Cerritos salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Cerritos-CA metropolitan statistical area (MSA), weighted by local employment counts. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Cerritos indexed at 144.3.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Cerritos's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $62,415 annual median.
- Tax burden reflects California state income tax (9.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Cerritos: 4.9%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.3% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $777,000, median rent $3,133/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Cerritos, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Cerritos unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Cerritos QuickFacts — population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance — California — state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Cerritos's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines — always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent California labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk· Last updated 2026 · BLS & Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Cerritos, CA?
The median hourly wage in Cerritos, CA is $30.01 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $62,415 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $18.61/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $42.61/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Cerritos, CA?
The median salary in Cerritos, CA is $62,415 per year, or $30.01 per hour. The average salary is $69,905. This is $3,031 above the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Cerritos, CA?
Cerritos's cost of living index is 144.3 (national average = 100), meaning it is 44.30000000000001% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $777,000 and the median monthly rent is $3,133.
What are the best industries in Cerritos?
The top industries in Cerritos, CA include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. The city has a job growth rate of 1.3% and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $62,415.
How does Cerritos's salary compare to other cities?
Cerritos's median salary of $62,415 is 5.1% above the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 144.3), the real purchasing power is approximately $43,254.
What is the minimum wage in Cerritos, CA?
The minimum wage in Cerritos, CA is $16.00 per hour. This equals approximately $33,280 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $8.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.