A physician with his young patient. Physicians are among the highest paid professionals in Los Angeles County. Photo by Skeeze at Pixabay.com.
Also see: What People Earn by Occupation in Los Angeles County
| Occupational Title | Estimated Number Employed* | Average Annual Wage or Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists | 1,490 | $324,900 |
| Radiologists | 210 | $320,927 |
| Psychiatrists | 1,540 | $319,637 |
| Obstetricians & Gynecologists | 800 | $291,244 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | 160 | $288,260 |
| Anesthesiologists | 320 | $281,668 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 50 | $281,292 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 100 | $265,873 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 2,370 | $264,943 |
| Chief Executives | 8,850 | $263,452 |
| Orthodontists | 50 | $260,098 |
| Surgeons, All Other | 70 | $246,716 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 1,460 | $245,990 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, & Flight Engineers | 4,740 | $241,248 |
| Physicians, All Other | 4,210 | $241,174 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 500 | $240,628 |
| Neurologists | 30 | $229,589 |
| Commercial Pilots | 1,900 | $209,206 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | 70 | $188,850 |
| Lawyers | 32,060 | $184,999 |
| Architectural & Engineering Managers | 6,530 | $181,934 |
| Pediatricians, General | 1,980 | $180,765 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 240 | $179,846 |
| Computer & Information Systems Managers | 16,830 | $178,051 |
| Medical Dosimetrists | N/A | $170,841 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 1,270 | $169,055 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police & Detectives | 2,870 | $168,776 |
| Marketing Managers | 12,890 | $167,808 |
| Area, Ethnic, & Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 220 | $166,566 |
| Financial Managers | 26,360 | $166,386 |
| Advertising & Promotions Managers | 1,680 | $165,014 |
| Family & Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 150 | $165,010 |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,240 | $164,212 |
| Physicists | 170 | $164,009 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 50 | $160,223 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | 290 | $159,332 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 830 | $159,136 |
| Human Resources Managers | 6,500 | $159,066 |
| Art, Drama, & Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 4,960 | $157,786 |
| Managers, All Other | 20,680 | $157,765 |
| Dentists, General | 2,800 | $157,332 |
| Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 420 | $157,092 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, & Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 340 | $156,074 |
| Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 90 | $155,426 |
| Foreign Language & Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 400 | $155,344 |
| Nurse Midwives | 200 | $155,325 |
| Philosophy & Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 650 | $155,283 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting & Prevention Workers | 1,410 | $154,440 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 320 | $154,162 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 210 | $154,057 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 600 | $153,534 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 770 | $153,028 |
| Art Directors | 4,420 | $152,891 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 510 | $152,738 |
| English Language & Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,650 | $152,646 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 3,860 | $152,330 |
| Producers & Directors | 35,700 | $149,433 |
| Petroleum Engineers | 610 | $149,067 |
| Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 40 | $148,827 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 190 | $148,626 |
| Economists | 490 | $148,619 |
| Mining & Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 50 | $148,076 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 880 | $147,691 |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 230 | $147,222 |
| Makeup Artists, Theatrical & Performance | 970 | $146,663 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 860 | $146,173 |
| Purchasing Managers | 1,960 | $145,755 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 390 | $145,688 |
| Computer & Information Research Scientists | 680 | $145,209 |
| Training & Development Managers | 1,130 | $144,389 |
| Recreation & Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 640 | $144,126 |
| Pharmacists | 9,740 | $142,635 |
| Public Relations Managers | 2,150 | $142,174 |
| Aerospace Engineers | 2,800 | $142,170 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | 70 | $141,867 |
| Compensation & Benefits Managers | 420 | $141,420 |
| Radiation Therapists | 210 | $141,355 |
| Podiatrists | 170 | $140,743 |
| Anthropology & Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 170 | $140,384 |
| Physician Assistants | 2,820 | $138,156 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, & Hearing Officers | 490 | $137,489 |
| Mathematicians | 30 | $137,389 |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 880 | $137,333 |
| Sales Managers | 22,190 | $137,211 |
| Agents & Business Managers of Artists, Performers, & Athletes | 5,350 | $137,032 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,700 | $135,961 |
| General & Operations Managers | 71,830 | $135,939 |
| Atmospheric & Space Scientists | 320 | $133,590 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 2,420 | $133,584 |
| Optometrists | 1,960 | $131,993 |
| Electrical Engineers | 6,260 | $131,852 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 5,450 | $131,619 |
| Nuclear Engineers | N/A | $131,578 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 3,510 | $131,023 |
| Political Scientists | N/A | $130,964 |
| Software Developers | 33,720 | $129,392 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 5,530 | $129,324 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 420 | $128,693 |
| Medical & Health Services Managers | 12,800 | $127,698 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 360 | $127,173 |
| Athletes & Sports Competitors | 90 | $127,025 |
| Clinical & Counseling Psychologists | 2,660 | $126,975 |
| Veterinarians | 1,440 | $126,959 |
| Fundraising Managers | 660 | $126,417 |
| Health & Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers & Inspectors | 370 | $125,739 |
| Emergency Management Directors | 90 | $125,262 |
| Computer Network Architects | 3,940 | $124,660 |
| Detectives & Criminal Investigators | 2,170 | $124,579 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 50 | $124,170 |
| Writers & Authors | 5,990 | $123,708 |
| Data Scientists | 2,610 | $123,635 |
| Hydrologists | 80 | $122,518 |
| Information Security Analysts | 2,570 | $122,083 |
| Registered Nurses | 86,720 | $121,840 |
| Construction Managers | 6,490 | $121,654 |
| Sales Engineers | 1,300 | $120,879 |
| Engineers, All Other | 5,310 | $120,714 |
| Designers, All Other | 600 | $120,255 |
* May 2021 Employment Estimates.
N/A = 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.
