A physician with his young patient. Physicians are among the highest paid professionals in Los Angeles County. Photo courtesy of Skeeze via Pixabay.com.
Also see: What People Earn by Occupation in Los Angeles County
| Occupational Title | Number Employed* | Average Annual Wage or Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiologists | 1,250 | $296,818 |
| Orthodontists | NA | $265,650 |
| Psychiatrists | 570 | $249,473 |
| Chief Executives | 7,330 | $238,325 |
| Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists | 620 | $234,217 |
| Physicians, All Other and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 7,510 | $225,817 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 390 | $214,880 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 370 | $213,528 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 2,030 | $208,475 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 90 | $206,912 |
| Astronomers | 130 | $205,198 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 5,910 | $199,461 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | 440 | $185,876 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 7,220 | $185,037 |
| Lawyers | 30,600 | $177,016 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 14,980 | $175,372 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 1,790 | $170,691 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 300 | $170,047 |
| Political Scientists | NA | $167,722 |
| Nurse Midwives | 140 | $166,833 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,520 | $164,419 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 1,080 | $161,962 |
| Marketing Managers | 9,880 | $160,806 |
| Financial Managers | 25,210 | $160,642 |
| Pediatricians, General | 770 | $159,523 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 2,720 | $155,713 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 470 | $153,683 |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Managers | 2,470 | $152,558 |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,870 | $151,233 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 380 | $150,788 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 910 | $150,076 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 330 | $148,840 |
| Purchasing Managers | 2,050 | $148,775 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 470 | $147,199 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other | 17,800 | $146,968 |
| Art Directors | 3,880 | $146,826 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 980 | $146,643 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 890 | $145,755 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 2,360 | $145,599 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 2,310 | $144,636 |
| Human Resources Managers | 5,210 | $144,220 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,070 | $144,016 |
| Pharmacists | 9,090 | $143,850 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 3,360 | $142,564 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 650 | $142,244 |
| Training and Development Managers | 1,320 | $142,230 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 720 | $142,183 |
| General and Operations Managers | 68,120 | $141,588 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 5,030 | $141,129 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 500 | $139,030 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 430 | $138,773 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 350 | $138,427 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | 460 | $138,004 |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 230 | $137,296 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 540 | $137,103 |
| Commercial Pilots | 1,630 | $136,493 |
| Petroleum Engineers | 690 | $136,194 |
| Nuclear Engineers | NA | $135,819 |
| Dentists, General | 3,620 | $135,526 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 990 | $135,306 |
| Construction Managers | 6,450 | $134,959 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | 790 | $134,888 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 6,450 | $134,738 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,940 | $134,641 |
| Producers and Directors | 25,430 | $134,512 |
| Aerospace Engineers | 2,920 | $134,396 |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 670 | $133,811 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 210 | $132,702 |
| Optometrists | 1,300 | $132,271 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 9,670 | $131,800 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 4,080 | $131,346 |
| Physician Assistants | 2,480 | $130,904 |
| Audiologists | 160 | $130,880 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 330 | $130,711 |
| Economists | 390 | $130,191 |
| Materials Scientists | 70 | $129,558 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 3,250 | $128,454 |
| Physicists | 450 | $128,002 |
| Sales Managers | 21,530 | $127,115 |
| Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 37,860 | $126,720 |
| Film and Video Editors | 8,600 | $126,203 |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 380 | $126,019 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 2,180 | $125,637 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 320 | $125,100 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | 3,930 | $124,277 |
| Actuaries | 430 | $123,962 |
| Industrial Production Managers | 5,310 | $123,761 |
| Radiation Therapists | 280 | $123,613 |
| Electrical Engineers | 5,110 | $123,546 |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 80 | $123,293 |
| Computer Network Architects | 4,180 | $123,149 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 4,020 | $122,946 |
| Emergency Management Directors | 140 | $122,398 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | NA | $122,371 |
| Psychologists, All Other | 380 | $121,962 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 590 | $117,591 |
| Dental Hygienists | 4,320 | $115,170 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 990 | $114,665 |
| Administrative Services and Facilities Managers | 11,350 | $114,659 |
| Veterinarians | 1,270 | $114,214 |
* May 2019 Employment Estimates.
NA = Data not available.
Source: California Employment Development Dept.
A small number of professional entertainers (actors, singers, dancers, etc.) and athletes earn considerably high wages, however, most do not.
