Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Salaries

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area is tracked by BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 737 occupations in the May 2025 release, each representing a distinct SOC code where local employment is large enough to report without triggering confidentiality suppression. Averaging the top-ranked occupation medians gives roughly $252,006 per year, a rough midpoint that helps you compare this metro to peer cities and the national picture. The BEA Regional Price Parity index for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA sits at 113.6, meaning the local price level is 14% above the national average for rent, groceries, services, and transportation combined.

At the top of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ranking, Radiologists pays a median of $488,670 across 310 local workers. Second-ranked is Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric at $433,520, followed by Psychiatrists at $370,510. At the bottom of the reported-occupation range, Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other pays $36,540. This spread between top-specialist and entry-service pay is characteristic of U.S. metro labor markets, though the specific ratio varies by metro economic base. Critically, nominal pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA converts to $221,903 of purchasing power in a national-average-cost city, the paycheck you take home here buys less than the same nominal amount would elsewhere.

Metro medians reflect where the job is located, not where you live, relevant if you plan to commute across MSA boundaries. BLS defines metro areas using OMB's MSA delineations, so Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA spans the central city plus economically integrated surrounding counties. When using this page, drill into individual occupation rows to see percentile spread (the top 10% often earns 2× or more than the median) and compare against the occupation's national profile to see whether Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA pays a premium or discount for that specific role. Remember that OEWS wages capture base pay only, health benefits, retirement contributions, bonuses, overtime, and equity compensation can add 20-40% to real total compensation, and that gap often skews larger in high-cost metros where employers load non-wage benefits to remain competitive.