Los Angeles Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Los Angeles, CA: $26.85/hr median hourly wage, $55,850 median annual salary, cost of living index 166, and $16.50/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
Los Angeles Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Los Angeles, 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 $16.50/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 Los Angeles 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
166
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.50
per hour
Unemployment
4.8%
rate
Los Angeles, CA Overview
Population
3,898,747
Median Salary
$55,850
Average Salary
$77,270
Avg Commute
31 min
Median Home Price
$830,000
Median Rent
$2,650/mo
Job Growth
+1.8%
Sales Tax
9.5%
Los Angeles is located in California with a population of 3,898,747. 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 31 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.8%.
Los Angeles Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Los Angeles, 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.
Los Angeles Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Los Angeles, 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: Los Angeles vs Other Cities
See how Los Angeles's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $55,850 | 166 | $33,645 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Long Beach, CA | $55,850 | 148 | $37,736 |
| Anaheim, CA | $55,850 | 155 | $36,032 |
| Santa Ana, CA | $55,850 | 150 | $37,233 |
| Irvine, CA | $55,850 | 175 | $31,914 |
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 Los Angeles
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 166 (national average = 100). Living in Los Angeles is 66% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$830,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,650
Annual Rent Cost
$31,800
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $45,512 annual take-home pay in Los Angeles has the purchasing power of approximately $27,417 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $92,711 in Los Angeles to match a $55,850 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Los Angeles
Los Angeles'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 Los Angeles Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Los Angeles has a cost of living 66% 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. Los Angeles's top industries include Entertainment, Technology, Healthcare. 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.
Job Salaries in Los Angeles, CA
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Los Angeles. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (84 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in California
Los Banos
Los Gatos
Lynwood
Madera
Manhattan Beach
Manteca
Martinez
Menifee
Menlo Park
Merced
Milpitas
Mission Viejo
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles indexed at 166.
- 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 Los Angeles was $75,200.
- Tax burden reflects California 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 13.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (9.5%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Los Angeles: 4.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Entertainment, Technology, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $830,000, median rent $2,650/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Los Angeles, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Los Angeles unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, 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. 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 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median hourly wage in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median salary in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, CA?
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 166 (national average = 100), meaning it is 66% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $830,000 and the median monthly rent is $2,650.
What are the best industries in Los Angeles?
The top industries in Los Angeles, CA include Entertainment, Technology, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 1.8% and an unemployment rate of 4.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $55,850.
How does Los Angeles's salary compare to other cities?
Los Angeles's median salary of $55,850 is 9.6% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 166), the real purchasing power is approximately $33,645.
What is the minimum wage in Los Angeles, CA?
The minimum wage in Los Angeles, CA is $16.50 per hour. This equals approximately $34,320 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $9.25 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.