Downey Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Downey, CA: $26.85/hr median hourly wage, $55,850 median annual salary, cost of living index 148.2, and $16.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
Downey Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Downey, CA is $26.85/hr,and the median annual wage is $55,850. Entry-level pay estimates around $16.65/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $38.13/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.00/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan statistical area (6,271,560 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Downey shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$55,850
$26.85/hr
Cost of Living
148.2
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.9%
rate
Downey, CA Overview
Population
111,772
Median Salary
$55,850
Average Salary
$77,270
Avg Commute
22 min
Median Home Price
$690,000
Median Rent
$2,816/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
7.25%
Downey is located in California with a population of 111,772. The median annual wage across all occupations is $55,850 ($26.85/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro), which is $4,870 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 22 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Downey Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Downey, CA built around the $55,850 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $34,627 | $16.65/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $55,850 | $26.85/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $79,307 | $38.13/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $99,413 | $47.79/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Downey Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Downey, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$45,512
$3,792.66/month · $1,750.46/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,750.46 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
$55,850
Federal Tax
-$4,522
State Tax
-$1,544
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,273
Net Pay
$45,512
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,654.17 | $55,850.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$376.83 | -$4,522.00 |
| California State Tax (2.76% eff.) | -$128.63 | -$1,543.53 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$288.56 | -$3,462.70 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$67.49 | -$809.83 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,792.66 | $45,511.95 |
Salary Comparison: Downey vs Other Cities
See how Downey's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downey, CA | $55,850 | 148.2 | $37,686 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $55,850 | 166 | $33,645 |
| Long Beach, CA | $55,850 | 148 | $37,736 |
| Anaheim, CA | $55,850 | 155 | $36,032 |
| Santa Ana, CA | $55,850 | 150 | $37,233 |
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 Downey
Downey's cost of living index is 148.2 (national average = 100). Living in Downey is 48.19999999999999% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$690,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,816
Annual Rent Cost
$33,792
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $45,512 annual take-home pay in Downey has the purchasing power of approximately $30,710 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $82,770 in Downey to match a $55,850 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Downey
Downey's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $55,850.
Salary Tips for Downey Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Downey has a cost of living 48.19999999999999% 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 top 13.3% 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. Downey's top industries include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $55,850 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 Downey salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Downey indexed at 148.2.
- Median salary: $55,850 annual, $26.85 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA (6,271,560 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $77,270 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Downey was $52,908.
- Tax burden reflects California 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 13.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Downey: 4.9%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $690,000, median rent $2,816/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Downey, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Downey unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Downey 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. Downey'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 Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Downey, CA?
The median hourly wage in Downey, CA is $26.85 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $55,850. Entry-level workers are estimated around $16.65/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $38.13/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Downey, CA?
The median salary in Downey, CA is $55,850 per year, or $26.85 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $77,270. This is $4,870 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Downey, CA?
Downey's cost of living index is 148.2 (national average = 100), meaning it is 48.19999999999999% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $690,000 and the median monthly rent is $2,816.
What are the best industries in Downey?
The top industries in Downey, CA include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $55,850.
How does Downey's salary compare to other cities?
Downey's median salary of $55,850 is 9.6% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 148.2), the real purchasing power is approximately $37,686.
What is the minimum wage in Downey, CA?
The minimum wage in Downey, 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.