Costa Mesa Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Costa Mesa, CA: $29.54/hr median hourly wage, $61,442 median annual salary, cost of living index 160.8, and $16.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
Costa Mesa Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Costa Mesa, CA is $29.54/hr, equivalent to $61,442 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $18.31/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $41.95/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.00/hr.
Costa Mesa salary source review
Reviewed May 26, 2026 for Orange County and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro labor market context.
Costa Mesa salaries are shaped by Orange County employers, South Coast retail and hospitality, healthcare, technology, professional services, logistics, design, and Los Angeles-area commuter opportunities. A salary of $61,442 in Costa Mesa converts to about $45,835 after estimated 2026 federal, FICA, state, and local income taxes before benefits or retirement deductions.
- Compare offers against Orange County and Los Angeles metro pay when the job is technology, healthcare, design, retail management, logistics, finance, or professional services.
- California income tax and very high housing costs can erase part of a higher nominal salary, so net pay and rent-adjusted salary matter.
- Bonus, commission, overtime, hybrid schedule, commute, and benefits can materially change the real value of Costa Mesa offers.
Median Salary
$61,442
$29.54/hr
Cost of Living
160.8
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.4%
rate
Costa Mesa, CA Overview
Population
112,087
Median Salary
$61,442
Average Salary
$68,815
Avg Commute
22 min
Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Rent
$3,576/mo
Job Growth
+0.8%
Sales Tax
7.25%
Costa Mesa is located in California with a population of 112,087. The median household salary is $61,442 per year ($29.54/hour), which is $2,058 above the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 22 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +0.8%.
Costa Mesa Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Costa Mesa, CA based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $61,442 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 | $38,094 | $18.31/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $61,442 | $29.54/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $87,248 | $41.95/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $109,367 | $52.58/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.
Costa Mesa Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Costa Mesa, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$45,835
$3,819.55/month · $1,762.87/biweekly · Effective Rate: 25.4%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,762.87 take-home per paycheck after estimated California and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$61,442
Federal Tax
-$5,193
State Tax
-$5,714
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,700
Net Pay
$45,835
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $5,120.17 | $61,442.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$432.75 | -$5,193.04 |
| California State Tax (9.3%) | -$476.18 | -$5,714.11 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$317.45 | -$3,809.40 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$74.24 | -$890.91 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,819.55 | $45,834.54 |
Salary Comparison: Costa Mesa vs Other Cities
See how Costa Mesa's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Mesa, CA | $61,442 | 160.8 | $38,210 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Antioch, CA | $61,449 | 125.8 | $48,847 |
| Clovis, CA | $61,459 | 108.5 | $56,644 |
| Richardson, TX | $61,462 | 101.5 | $60,554 |
| Lee's Summit, MO | $61,418 | 95.5 | $64,312 |
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 Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 160.8 (national average = 100). Living in Costa Mesa is 60.80000000000001% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,576
Annual Rent Cost
$42,912
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $45,835 annual take-home pay in Costa Mesa has the purchasing power of approximately $28,504 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $98,799 in Costa Mesa to match a $61,442 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $61,442.
Salary Tips for Costa Mesa Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Costa Mesa has a cost of living 60.80000000000001% 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. Costa Mesa's top industries include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $61,442 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 Costa Mesa salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Costa Mesa-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 Costa Mesa indexed at 160.8.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Costa Mesa's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $61,442 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 Costa Mesa: 4.4%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 0.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $880,000, median rent $3,576/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Costa Mesa, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Costa Mesa unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Costa Mesa 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. Costa Mesa'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 Costa Mesa, CA?
The median hourly wage in Costa Mesa, CA is $29.54 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $61,442 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $18.31/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $41.95/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Costa Mesa, CA?
The median salary in Costa Mesa, CA is $61,442 per year, or $29.54 per hour. The average salary is $68,815. This is $2,058 above the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Costa Mesa, CA?
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 160.8 (national average = 100), meaning it is 60.80000000000001% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $880,000 and the median monthly rent is $3,576.
What are the best industries in Costa Mesa?
The top industries in Costa Mesa, CA include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. The city has a job growth rate of 0.8% and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $61,442.
How does Costa Mesa's salary compare to other cities?
Costa Mesa's median salary of $61,442 is 3.5% above the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 160.8), the real purchasing power is approximately $38,210.
What is the minimum wage in Costa Mesa, CA?
The minimum wage in Costa Mesa, 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.