The average individual income in Los Angeles is roughly $45,800 per year, based on per capita income data from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020-2024 estimates in 2024 dollars). That figure includes all residents with income, though, from part-time workers to high earners. What you can actually expect to earn depends heavily on your occupation, experience level, and industry.
Individual Income vs. Household Income
There are two numbers worth knowing. Per capita income in Los Angeles County sits at $45,792, which represents average individual earnings across the entire population, including people who work part-time or not at all. It’s useful as a broad benchmark but doesn’t reflect what a typical full-time worker brings home.
Median household income tells a different story. For the city of Los Angeles specifically, the median household income is $82,263, according to the 2024 American Community Survey. At the county level, which includes wealthier areas like the Westside and parts of the San Fernando Valley, that number climbs to $90,112. “Median” means half of all households earn more and half earn less, making it a better snapshot of what a typical family’s finances look like than an average pulled up by extreme earners at the top.
What Different Industries Pay
Your industry is the single biggest factor in what you’ll earn in Los Angeles. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2024 shows a wide gap between the top and bottom of the pay scale in the LA metro area.
The highest-paying occupational groups, measured by mean hourly wage:
- Legal occupations: $94.18 per hour, or roughly $196,000 annually
- Management: $76.23 per hour, or roughly $158,600 annually
- Computer and mathematical roles: $60.21 per hour, or roughly $125,200 annually
On the other end:
- Healthcare support: $19.31 per hour, or roughly $40,200 annually
- Food preparation and serving: $20.26 per hour, or roughly $42,100 annually
- Building and grounds cleaning/maintenance: $21.17 per hour, or roughly $44,000 annually
That spread is enormous. A management professional earns nearly four times what a food service worker makes. LA’s economy is dominated by entertainment, tech, healthcare, professional services, and hospitality, so these categories cover a large share of the workforce. If you’re researching salaries for a career move, the occupational group matters far more than the citywide average.
What It Actually Costs to Live Here
Earning the “average” salary in Los Angeles doesn’t necessarily mean you’re living comfortably. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, updated in February 2026, estimates that a single adult with no children in Los Angeles County needs to earn at least $28.92 per hour, or $60,161 per year before taxes, just to cover basic necessities like housing, food, transportation, and healthcare.
That living wage threshold is well above the per capita income of $45,792 and also above what workers in the lowest-paying industries typically earn. A food service worker making around $42,100 falls roughly $18,000 short of the living wage estimate. Even someone earning the citywide median household income of $82,263 doesn’t have as much breathing room as that number might suggest, since housing alone consumes a large share of most LA budgets. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in many parts of the city runs $1,800 to $2,500 per month, which can eat up 30% to 40% of gross income for a median earner.
How LA Compares to National Figures
The national median household income is approximately $80,000, which puts LA’s county-level figure of $90,112 about 12% higher. Individual per capita income nationally runs around $41,000, so LA’s $45,792 is also above the national mark. But those higher earnings get offset quickly by the cost of housing, groceries, and transportation, all of which run significantly above national averages in the LA metro.
In practical terms, earning $90,000 as a household in Los Angeles gives you roughly the same purchasing power as a household earning $65,000 to $70,000 in a mid-cost metro. The salary numbers look higher on paper, but the gap narrows fast once you factor in what those dollars actually buy.
What This Means for Job Seekers
If you’re evaluating a job offer or considering a move to Los Angeles, the citywide average is a starting point, not a target. Focus on salary data specific to your occupation and experience level. A software engineer, a nurse, and a retail manager will have completely different benchmarks even though they all live in the same city.
When negotiating pay, keep that $60,161 living wage figure in mind as a floor for a single adult. Any offer below that level will likely leave you stretching to cover basic costs without roommates or a second income. For roles in management, tech, legal, or healthcare (clinical, not support), salaries well into six figures are common and reflect the cost of doing business in one of the country’s most expensive metro areas.