Highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In Los Angeles, the annual mean wage is $65,930 or 13.2% higher than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $315,790. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Producers and directors
- Annual mean salary: $143,610
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 36,850
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,950
- Employment: 138,250
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,610)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($128,810)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,990)

#49. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $143,950
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,610
- Employment: 37,600
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)

#48. Computer and information research scientists
- Annual mean salary: $144,720
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,650
- Employment: 30,840
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($209,890)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($202,020)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($183,750)

#47. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $144,930
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,490
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)

#46. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $145,740
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)
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#45. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $145,980
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,680
- Employment: 58,480
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($162,660)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,980)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($132,320)

#44. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $146,040
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,150
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,430
- Employment: 42,080
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,310)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($146,040)

#43. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $147,650
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,260
- Employment: 20,850
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,730)

#42. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $147,720
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,590
- Employment: 35,440
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)

#41. History teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $148,420
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,460
- Employment: 18,590
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($148,420)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($129,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,560)
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#40. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $148,680
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,240
- Employment: 94,720
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)

#39. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $149,170
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,990
- Employment: 19,640
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,170)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($130,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($129,250)

#38. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $149,400
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,580
- Employment: 27,330
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,400)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($127,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,320)

#37. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $149,790
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,840
- Employment: 10,250
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)

#36. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $150,290
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- Employment: 14,060
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($155,350)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($150,290)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($140,340)
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#35. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $150,650
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,710
- Employment: 47,690
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)

#34. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $150,720
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)
#33. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $151,540
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)

#32. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $152,830
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,730
- Employment: 13,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($161,540)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($152,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,020)

#31. Physicists
- Annual mean salary: $153,040
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $151,580
- Employment: 20,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($199,830)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($195,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($188,250)
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#30. Library science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $154,890
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,850
- Employment: 4,330
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($154,890)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($104,810)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($102,320)
#28 (tie). Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,890
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,940
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)
#28 (tie). First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $155,890
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#27. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $155,970
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,600
- Employment: 5,950
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($155,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,550)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($142,180)

#26. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $157,340
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,730
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,980
- Employment: 44,140
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)
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#25. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $157,890
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,230
- Employment: 2,730
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,890)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($140,800)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($139,060)

#24. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $160,290
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,680
- Employment: 9,040
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($160,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($137,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,510)

#23. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $160,890
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 37,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
#22. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $161,750
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 17,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)
#21. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $163,130
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,900
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)
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#20. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $172,600
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)
#19. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $172,880
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 24,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)
#18. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $173,360
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,810
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)
#17. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $174,660
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)
#16. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $177,550
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 41,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)
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#15. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $184,260
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
#14. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $224,010
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)
#13. Neurologists
- Annual mean salary: $226,310
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,660
- Employment: 7,120
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($350,140)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($348,500)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($346,670)

#12. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Annual mean salary: $229,160
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,190
- Employment: 81,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($255,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,380)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($242,540)

#11. Orthodontists
- Annual mean salary: $244,520
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,280
- Employment: 5,140
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($348,850)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($330,490)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($288,640)
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#10. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $246,100
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,940
National
- Annual mean salary: $242,190
- Employment: 58,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($359,200)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($350,330)
--- Sumter, SC ($334,810)
#9. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $256,600
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#8. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $261,120
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,080
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)
#7. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $273,980
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $306,220
- Employment: 16,260
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($366,650)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($364,290)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($354,880)
#6. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $277,960
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $296,210
- Employment: 21,570
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($377,980)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($375,200)
--- Modesto, CA ($362,780)
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#5. Anesthesiologists
- Annual mean salary: $286,130
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $331,190
- Employment: 31,130
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($367,320)
--- Tallahassee, FL ($363,190)
--- Fort Wayne, IN ($358,430)
#4. Physicians, pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $292,480
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,180
- Employment: 11,010
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($351,450)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($344,900)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($341,360)

#3. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $305,320
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,950
National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)
#2. Cardiologists
- Annual mean salary: $314,200
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $353,970
- Employment: 18,610
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($411,230)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($365,880)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($363,270)
#1. Radiologists
- Annual mean salary: $315,790
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $301,720
- Employment: 29,530
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($370,570)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($358,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($358,450)
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