How much does a life make in Los Angeles?
$86,450a year
Median yearly pay for lifes in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $41.56 an hour or $7,204 a month.
- Hourly
- $41.56
- Vs. national median
- +39%
- Rank among cities
- 8 of 182
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $49,050Median: $86,450Highest 10%: $107,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,050 | $23.58 | |
| 25th | $68,010 | $32.70 | |
| Median | $86,450 | $41.56 | |
| 75th | $100,900 | $48.50 | |
| 90th | $107,500 | $51.67 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for lifes.
| Bakersfield, CA | $87,180 |
| San Jose, CA | $83,160 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79,180 |
| San Francisco, CA | $77,670 |
| Riverside, CA | $76,630 |
| San Diego, CA | $75,970 |
| Oxnard, CA | $74,100 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $66,290 |
| Sacramento, CA | $64,240 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $62,510 |
| Fresno, CA | $57,310 |
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 make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $41.56 ($86,450 a year).
Do lifes make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $86,450 against $62,280 nationally, 39% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $78,350, so Los Angeles pays 10% more.
Where does Los Angeles rank for life pay?
8 of 182 metro areas with data.
How much does a life make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,050 or less a year; the top 10% make $107,500 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.