BGStock72 // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: 1,940 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Los Angeles
What do we mean when we talk about computer and engineering jobs? Well, that depends. These positions encompass various roles dedicated to new technology development and maintenance. Take software developers, who create and oversee computer programs, versus mechanical engineers, who design and build physical products, tools, and systems. However different these careers may be, though, they do have a few things in common: bachelor's degree requirements, a focus on analytical thinking, and the allure of a steady paycheck, particularly for recent college graduates.
First, the bad news—ongoing technological advancements have massively impacted these industries. As the use of artificial intelligence has exploded in the technology sector, finding an entry-level job has become increasingly difficult. LinkedIn Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Aneesh Raman noted in a May 2025 op-ed for The New York Times that artificial intelligence is decimating the "bottom rung of the career ladder" in technology, while a May 2025 report from SignalFire found that the hiring of new grads at the nation's 15 largest tech companies has dropped by more than 50% since 2019.
Yet, while the situation may seem dire, it's not all doom and gloom for computer and engineering jobs. Although these positions may be more selective than they once were, many pay far more than the country's 2024 median wages of $49,500. Those in computer and information technology occupations can expect to make a median salary of $105,990 as of 2024, while engineers earn median wages of more than $97,000.
Employment in these fields is also expected to grow at a healthy rate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an average of 356,700 new computer job openings yearly through 2033, and 195,000 new engineering job openings in the same period. Furthermore, growing interest in sustainable infrastructure and construction techniques could lead to exciting opportunities for engineers.
Though it's difficult to predict the exact future of computer and engineering jobs, those interested in these fields can at least consider one important aspect: salary. Stacker used BLS data to find the highest-paying computer and engineering jobs Los Angeles. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Los Angeles area by diners
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Computer network support specialists
- Median annual wage: $74,040
- Median hourly wage: $35.59
- Total employment: 4,020 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hitdelight // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Architectural and civil drafters
- Median annual wage: $74,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.87
- Total employment: 4,050 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 230 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,740
- Median hourly wage: $36.41
- Total employment: 1,040 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Los Angeles area by diners
BELL KA PANG // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $76,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.99
- Total employment: 1,230 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gearstd // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Mechanical drafters
- Median annual wage: $79,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.98
- Total employment: 1,090 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $79,200
- Median hourly wage: $38.08
- Total employment: 350 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $79,880
- Median hourly wage: $38.41
- Total employment: 810 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $81,330
- Median hourly wage: $39.10
- Total employment: 2,880 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Los Angeles buyers
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $81,890
- Median hourly wage: $39.37
- Total employment: 1,710 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PR Image Factory // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Operations research analysts
- Median annual wage: $88,150
- Median hourly wage: $42.38
- Total employment: 3,550 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kardasov Films // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Marine engineers and naval architects
- Median annual wage: $96,220
- Median hourly wage: $46.26
- Total employment: Not available
industryviews // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $96,370
- Median hourly wage: $46.33
- Total employment: 410 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Web developers
- Median annual wage: $97,990
- Median hourly wage: $47.11
- Total employment: 2,920 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Los Angeles
Toa55 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Landscape architects
- Median annual wage: $98,070
- Median hourly wage: $47.15
- Total employment: 800 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $101,840
- Median hourly wage: $48.96
- Total employment: 23,310 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Median annual wage: $102,190
- Median hourly wage: $49.13
- Total employment: 5,820 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Web and digital interface designers
- Median annual wage: $102,660
- Median hourly wage: $49.36
- Total employment: 8,460 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Freedy // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Surveyors
- Median annual wage: $103,930
- Median hourly wage: $49.97
- Total employment: 760 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Los Angeles
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $104,410
- Median hourly wage: $50.20
- Total employment: 4,750 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $105,270
- Median hourly wage: $50.61
- Total employment: 9,000 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $105,290
- Median hourly wage: $50.62
- Total employment: 16,390 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DC Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Database administrators
- Median annual wage: $105,400
- Median hourly wage: $50.67
- Total employment: 2,610 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Francesco Scatena // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cartographers and photogrammetrists
- Median annual wage: $106,100
- Median hourly wage: $51.01
- Total employment: 230 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Los Angeles
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Median annual wage: $106,400
- Median hourly wage: $51.16
- Total employment: 7,560 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $108,210
- Median hourly wage: $52.02
- Total employment: 660 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $108,300
- Median hourly wage: $52.07
- Total employment: 8,900 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $114,290
- Median hourly wage: $54.95
- Total employment: 8,280 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tonhom1009 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Median annual wage: $115,020
- Median hourly wage: $55.30
- Total employment: 940 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Los Angeles by diners
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Materials engineers
- Median annual wage: $119,580
- Median hourly wage: $57.49
- Total employment: 1,160 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Environmental engineers
- Median annual wage: $119,780
- Median hourly wage: $57.59
- Total employment: 1,270 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $122,000
- Median hourly wage: $58.66
- Total employment: 7,910 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Actuaries
- Median annual wage: $122,520
- Median hourly wage: $58.90
- Total employment: 300 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
eldar nurkovic // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $122,950
- Median hourly wage: $59.11
- Total employment: 300 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles for high school graduates
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $124,270
- Median hourly wage: $59.75
- Total employment: 10,030 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Median annual wage: $124,970
- Median hourly wage: $60.08
- Total employment: 900 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $126,520
- Median hourly wage: $60.83
- Total employment: 15,260 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $131,280
- Median hourly wage: $63.11
- Total employment: 4,420 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $134,900
- Median hourly wage: $64.86
- Total employment: 7,870 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Los Angeles area by visitors
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $137,910
- Median hourly wage: $66.30
- Total employment: 4,520 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Median annual wage: $138,200
- Median hourly wage: $66.44
- Total employment: 5,010 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Computer hardware engineers
- Median annual wage: $140,890
- Median hourly wage: $67.74
- Total employment: 2,160 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Taty77 // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Median annual wage: $142,520
- Median hourly wage: $68.52
- Total employment: 340 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aappp // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Aerospace engineers
- Median annual wage: $143,860
- Median hourly wage: $69.16
- Total employment: 6,090 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much it costs to park at Hollywood Burbank Airport
MinskDesign // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $145,300
- Median hourly wage: $69.86
- Total employment: 1,730 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $149,070
- Median hourly wage: $71.67
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kenishirotie //Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Mathematicians
- Median annual wage: $149,150
- Median hourly wage: $71.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wee dezign // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $155,330
- Median hourly wage: $74.68
- Total employment: 54,650 people (8.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Another77 // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Petroleum engineers
- Median annual wage: $161,320
- Median hourly wage: $77.56
- Total employment: 300 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Los Angeles
