Comprehensive salary data, cost of living, and employment information for Los Angeles, California. Population: 3,979,576.
Reviewed by Alexander O.M., MBA, BSc Engineering•Updated
Los Angeles's $69,778 median household income is comparable to the national average, but the city's cost-of-living index of 166 pushes effective purchasing power well below most major metros. The LA economy operates across multiple distinct geographic sub-economies that aren't visible in a single median number: Westside technology and media (Santa Monica, Playa Vista, Culver City), Downtown LA's revitalisation and fashion district, the San Fernando Valley's production and studio infrastructure, and South Bay aerospace (SpaceX, Northrop, Raytheon). The entertainment industry remains the most visible employment cluster, but the Port of Los Angeles — tied with Long Beach as the largest US port complex by container volume — anchors a very large logistics and warehousing workforce in the region. Healthcare employment (UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente Southern California) runs larger than the entertainment sector by headcount. Housing is the main cost driver: median single-family home prices in LA County exceed $900,000, and median one-bedroom rent is above $2,500. California's state income tax (1% to 13.3%) applies on top of federal, and LA city's Measure ULA transfer tax affects higher-earning households specifically. Full breakdown below.
Median Individual
$40,610
per year
Median Household
$69,778
per year
Cost of Living
166
Very Expensive (US avg = 100)
Population
4.0M
Salary Breakdown for Los Angeles
The median individual income in Los Angeles is $40,610 per year, which works out to approximately $3,384/month or $19.52/hour for full-time workers. The median household income is $69,778.
Cost of Living Adjusted Salary
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 166 (national average = 100). The median salary of $40,610 in Los Angeles has the purchasing power of approximately $24,464 at the national average cost of living. The high cost of living in Los Angeles means you need a significantly higher salary to maintain the same standard of living as cheaper cities.