How much does a life scientist make in Los Angeles?
$104,700a year
Median yearly pay for life scientists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $50.36 an hour or $8,728 a month.
- Hourly
- $50.36
- Vs. national median
- +12%
- Rank among cities
- 10 of 29
- Jobs in the area
- 230
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $60,200Median: $104,700Highest 10%: $234,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,200 | $28.94 | |
| 25th | $85,990 | $41.34 | |
| Median | $104,700 | $50.36 | |
| 75th | $159,500 | $76.68 | |
| 90th | $234,600 | $112.78 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for life scientists.
| San Francisco, CA | $134,800 |
| San Jose, CA | $125,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $100,700 |
| San Diego, CA | $80,120 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $160,300 |
| Psychologist | $153,600 |
| Economist | $151,500 |
| Materials Scientist | $150,000 |
| Physical Scientist | $136,200 |
| Medical Scientist | $134,900 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $131,700 |
| Sociologist | $124,500 |
| Hydrologist | $123,400 |
| School Psychologist | $122,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a life scientist make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $50.36 ($104,700 a year).
Do life scientists make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $104,700 against $93,750 nationally, 12% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $102,800, so Los Angeles pays 2% more.
Where does Los Angeles rank for life scientist pay?
10 of 29 metro areas with data.
How much does a life scientist make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $60,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $234,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.