Sociologists pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $178,050 or more. The middle half of sociologists in Los Angeles earn between $89,750 and $140,410.
- $83K10th
- $90K25th
- $125KMedian
- $140K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $125,220 | $10,435 | $60.20 |
| Median | $124,540 | $10,378 | $59.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $89,750 | $7,479 | $43.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $140,410 | $11,701 | $67.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sociologists pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Sociologists in Los Angeles earn about the same as the California average ($123,090) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($114,920). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $106,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $125,220 | $124,540 | $82,690 | $178,050 | 70 |
| California | $123,090 | $125,770 | $85,030 | $161,710 | 590 |
| United States | $114,920 | $106,030 | $65,160 | $172,550 | 2,260 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sociologists salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $125,220, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $89,300 a year, or $7,442 a month and $3,435 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 sociologists? 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 $125,220 buys what about $110,262 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 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.
Sociologists salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 2nd of 4 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($131,480).
- San Francisco$131,480
- Los Angeles$125,220
- Riverside$124,360
- Stockton$120,950
Highest-paying cities for sociologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($131,480).
- San Francisco, CA$131,480
- Durham, NC$129,900
- Los Angeles, CA$125,220
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Boston, MA$123,880
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Sociologists salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do sociologists make an hour in Los Angeles?
$60.20 an hour on average, and $59.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sociologists salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $89,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sociologists take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $89,300 a year ($7,442 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $125,220. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do sociologists earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($114,920).
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 19-3041; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
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