High Six-Figure Salaries in Los Angeles Workforce

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Visualizing the pursuit of six-figure salaries in the vibrant city of Los Angeles.

News Summary

A recent analysis of payroll data reveals that a significant portion of workers in Los Angeles and Orange County aspire to earn six-figure salaries for financial comfort. The median wage in the region is $53,490, but only five major occupational categories offer salaries exceeding $100,000. As the cost of living continues to rise, the quest for high-paying jobs becomes essential for many residents seeking economic stability.

Los Angeles – A significant portion of the workforce in Los Angeles and Orange County is seeking six-figure incomes to achieve financial comfort, according to a recent analysis of 2024 payroll data. The annual employment report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in this metropolitan area, the median wage stands at $53,490, with only a handful of occupations offering salaries that exceed the coveted $100,000 mark.

Among the 22 major occupational categories examined, only five boast median annual wages surpassing the six-figure threshold. These categories include Legal, Management, Computer-Mathematical, Healthcare-Technical, and Architecture-Engineering. Collectively, these professions employ approximately 1.1 million individuals, or 18% of the metro area’s 6.2 million local workers.

The report highlights that the 75th percentile wage in the Los Angeles and Orange County region is $90,360 annually, translating to 69% higher than the median wage. This percentile marks the income threshold below which 75% of workers fall. Interestingly, when including additional job categories, there are nine occupations that yield annual wages exceeding $100,000 at the 75th percentile. These are:

Legal: $210,550 (64% above a median of $128,680 for 67,650 workers)
Management: $196,390 (49% above a median of $131,930 for 449,010 workers)
Computer-Mathematical: $160,230 (32% above a median of $121,480 for 178,860 workers)
Healthcare-Technical: $151,810 (44% above a median of $105,750 for 324,970 workers)
Architecture-Engineering: $140,880 (32% above a median of $106,540 for 93,340 workers)
Life-Physical-Social Science: $127,540 (32% above a median of $96,480 for 52,510 workers)
Business-Financial: $124,740 (39% above a median of $89,470 for 424,770 workers)
Arts-Design-Entertainment-Sports-Media: $122,090 (48% above a median of $82,490 for 174,200 workers)
Education-Library: $102,490 (56% above a median of $65,520 for 344,320 workers)

In addition to these high-paying jobs, several other occupational sectors reported impressive earnings at the 75th percentile. These sectors include:

Construction and Extraction: $96,980
Community and Social Service: $92,880
Protective Service: $87,160
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair: $82,460
Sales and Related: $63,790
Office and Administrative Support: $63,580
Production: $58,680
Transportation and Material Moving: $55,540
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry: $53,610
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance: $47,860
Personal Care and Service: $46,210
Food Preparation and Serving Related: $44,700
Healthcare Support: $41,710

Comparatively, the local median wage of $53,490 is 8% higher than the national median wage of $49,500. Furthermore, the 75th percentile local wage of $90,360 exceeds the national figure of $78,810 by 15%. At the lower end, the 25th percentile local wages are at $38,120, compared to $36,730 nationally, which is a 4% increase.

This data paints a clear picture of the economic landscape in Los Angeles and Orange County. Jobs within high-demand sectors remain the most lucrative, while the median wage highlights a growing disparity between various occupations in terms of pay. As the cost of living continues to rise in this thriving metropolitan area, the pursuit of six-figure incomes remains a critical component of financial stability for many residents.