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1 / 50#50. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $142,120
- Median hourly wage: $68.33
- Total employment: 2,760 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in 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.
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $142,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Taty77 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. 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
4 / 50#47. 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)
My Ocean Production // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Median annual wage: $145,190
- Median hourly wage: $69.80
- Total employment: 460 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. 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)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $146,630
- Median hourly wage: $70.50
- Total employment: 3,460 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $148,870
- Median hourly wage: $71.57
- Total employment: 920 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. 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
10 / 50#41. 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)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $152,460
- Median hourly wage: $73.30
- Total employment: 1,020 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. 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)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Radiation therapists
- Median annual wage: $155,360
- Median hourly wage: $74.69
- Total employment: 380 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $156,210
- Median hourly wage: $75.10
- Total employment: 4,710 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $158,450
- Median hourly wage: $76.18
- Total employment: 12,390 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $160,640
- Median hourly wage: $77.23
- Total employment: 500 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Another77 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. 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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $161,970
- Median hourly wage: $77.87
- Total employment: 8,890 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $162,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 670 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $163,100
- Median hourly wage: $78.42
- Total employment: 19,180 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $164,510
- Median hourly wage: $79.09
- Total employment: 6,400 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $165,340
- Median hourly wage: $79.49
- Total employment: 32,970 people (5.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Burben // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Air traffic controllers
- Median annual wage: $169,230
- Median hourly wage: $81.36
- Total employment: 670 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $169,590
- Median hourly wage: $81.53
- Total employment: 4,800 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $171,390
- Median hourly wage: $82.40
- Total employment: 2,220 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $171,620
- Median hourly wage: $82.51
- Total employment: 2,620 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $171,920
- Median hourly wage: $82.65
- Total employment: 35,320 people (5.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $176,200
- Median hourly wage: $84.71
- Total employment: 4,300 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $177,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,110 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $179,990
- Median hourly wage: $86.53
- Total employment: Not available
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $181,400
- Median hourly wage: $87.21
- Total employment: 8,850 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $190,230
- Median hourly wage: $91.46
- Total employment: 190 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $191,410
- Median hourly wage: $92.02
- Total employment: 24,260 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $193,510
- Median hourly wage: $93.03
- Total employment: 370 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $205,900
- Median hourly wage: $98.99
- Total employment: 40,990 people (6.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $231,500
- Median hourly wage: $111.30
- Total employment: 12,420 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Median annual wage: $235,930
- Median hourly wage: $113.43
- Total employment: Not available
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
38 / 50#1. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#1. Orthodontists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 6,570 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
4 PM production // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Tijana Simic // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,880 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Djols // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 610 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Pediatricians, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,670 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
