East Los Angeles Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
East Los Angeles, CA: $30.25/hr median hourly wage, $62,911 median annual salary, cost of living index 155, and $16.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
East Los Angeles Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in East Los Angeles, CA is $30.25/hr, equivalent to $62,911 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $18.75/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $42.95/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.00/hr.
Median Salary
$62,911
$30.25/hr
Cost of Living
155
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.6%
rate
East Los Angeles, CA Overview
Population
120,307
Median Salary
$62,911
Average Salary
$70,460
Avg Commute
21 min
Median Home Price
$759,000
Median Rent
$3,096/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
7.25%
East Los Angeles is located in California with a population of 120,307. The median household salary is $62,911 per year ($30.25/hour), which is $3,527 above the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 21 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
East Los Angeles Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in East Los Angeles, CA based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $62,911 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 | $39,005 | $18.75/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $62,911 | $30.25/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $89,334 | $42.95/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $111,982 | $53.84/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.
East Los Angeles Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in East Los Angeles, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$46,878
$3,906.52/month · $1,803.01/biweekly · Effective Rate: 25.5%
Gross Pay
$62,911
Federal Tax
-$5,369
State Tax
-$5,851
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,813
Net Pay
$46,878
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $5,242.58 | $62,911.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$447.44 | -$5,369.32 |
| California State Tax (9.3%) | -$487.56 | -$5,850.72 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$325.04 | -$3,900.48 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$76.02 | -$912.21 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,906.52 | $46,878.27 |
Salary Comparison: East Los Angeles vs Other Cities
See how East Los Angeles's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Los Angeles, CA | $62,911 | 155 | $40,588 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Leominster, MA | $62,910 | 132.8 | $47,372 |
| Mount Laurel, NJ | $62,908 | 122.4 | $51,395 |
| Fountain, CO | $62,882 | 104.3 | $60,290 |
| Ramsey, MN | $62,878 | 94.1 | $66,820 |
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 East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 155 (national average = 100). Living in East Los Angeles is 55% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$759,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,096
Annual Rent Cost
$37,152
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $46,878 annual take-home pay in East Los Angeles has the purchasing power of approximately $30,244 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $97,512 in East Los Angeles to match a $62,911 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $62,911.
Salary Tips for East Los Angeles Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. East Los Angeles has a cost of living 55% 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. East Los Angeles's top industries include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $62,911 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 East Los Angeles salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the East Los Angeles-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 East Los Angeles indexed at 155.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of East Los Angeles's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $62,911 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 East Los Angeles: 4.6%, 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 $759,000, median rent $3,096/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for East Los Angeles, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — East Los Angeles unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — East Los Angeles 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. East Los Angeles'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 East Los Angeles, CA?
The median hourly wage in East Los Angeles, CA is $30.25 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $62,911 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $18.75/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $42.95/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in East Los Angeles, CA?
The median salary in East Los Angeles, CA is $62,911 per year, or $30.25 per hour. The average salary is $70,460. This is $3,527 above the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in East Los Angeles, CA?
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 155 (national average = 100), meaning it is 55% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $759,000 and the median monthly rent is $3,096.
What are the best industries in East Los Angeles?
The top industries in East Los Angeles, CA include Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $62,911.
How does East Los Angeles's salary compare to other cities?
East Los Angeles's median salary of $62,911 is 5.9% above the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 155), the real purchasing power is approximately $40,588.
What is the minimum wage in East Los Angeles, CA?
The minimum wage in East Los Angeles, 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.