Life Scientists, All Other pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $234,590 or more. The middle half of other life scientists in Los Angeles earn between $85,990 and $159,490.
- $60K10th
- $86K25th
- $105KMedian
- $159K75th
- $235K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $126,380 | $10,532 | $60.76 |
| Median | $104,740 | $8,728 | $50.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,990 | $7,166 | $41.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $159,490 | $13,291 | $76.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Life Scientists, All Other pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Other life scientists in Los Angeles earn 8% more than the California average ($117,510) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($107,860). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $93,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $126,380 | $104,740 | $60,200 | $234,590 | 230 |
| California | $117,510 | $102,830 | $62,910 | $187,550 | 860 |
| United States | $107,860 | $93,750 | $58,670 | $186,260 | 7,460 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Life Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $126,380, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $89,985 a year, or $7,499 a month and $3,461 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for other life scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $126,380 buys what about $111,283 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Life Scientists, All Other salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 3rd of 5 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($152,410).
- San Jose$152,410
- San Francisco$139,970
- Los Angeles$126,380
- Sacramento$107,630
- San Diego$93,040
Highest-paying cities for other life scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($152,410).
- San Jose, CA$152,410
- San Francisco, CA$139,970
- Washington, DC$139,090
- Phoenix, AZ$135,570
- Charlotte, NC$126,790
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Life Scientists, All Other salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do other life scientists make an hour in Los Angeles?
$60.76 an hour on average, and $50.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other life scientists salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other life scientists take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $89,985 a year ($7,499 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $126,380. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do other life scientists earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($107,860).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-1099; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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