High paying entry level jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

These occupations in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA run 13.6% above the national average (2024), so a Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA salary is worth about 0.88× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

OccupationMedian, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · Employed

1Lawyers$194,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$93,980 – $375,44041,580
2Aerospace Engineers$163,280
Bachelor's degree
$108,330 – $227,4405,200
3Physician Assistants$161,890
Master's degree
$99,570 – $220,5803,890
4Nurse Practitioners$161,470
Master's degree
$119,950 – $216,18010,060
5Software Developers$160,920
Bachelor's degree
$98,270 – $223,15055,540
6Veterinarians$160,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,410 – $284,0502,740
7Pharmacists$157,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,800 – $209,06012,450
8Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$140,530
Bachelor's degree
$84,020 – $212,5904,880
9Dentists, General$139,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,510 – $219,3806,300
10Electrical Engineers$139,780
Bachelor's degree
$79,230 – $209,4608,970
11Optometrists$138,940
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,540 – $209,5302,360
12Registered Nurses$135,560
Bachelor's degree
$100,980 – $174,200109,360
13Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$134,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,270 – $165,3308,520
14Data Scientists$129,740
Bachelor's degree
$71,080 – $208,2809,850
15English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$128,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,430 – $208,3102,150
16Business Teachers, Postsecondary$128,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,910 – $262,2702,050
17Engineers, All Other$125,060
Bachelor's degree
$72,110 – $187,6407,530
18Special Effects Artists and Animators$124,590
Bachelor's degree
$64,740 – $206,9004,650
19Mechanical Engineers$123,900
Bachelor's degree
$77,040 – $173,3408,780
20Dental Hygienists$122,980
Associate's degree
$56,800 – $137,3107,940
21Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$122,210
Bachelor's degree
$60,660 – $170,8807,200
22Occupational Therapists$122,040
Master's degree
$82,840 – $154,7304,950
23Computer Systems Analysts$121,560
Bachelor's degree
$76,430 – $165,62016,900
24Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$119,430
Associate's degree
$57,180 – $168,3603,550
25Industrial Engineers$113,040
Bachelor's degree
$78,320 – $166,09011,460
26Database Administrators$112,540
Bachelor's degree
$60,900 – $168,0502,280
27Computer Occupations, All Other$109,700
Bachelor's degree
$49,720 – $203,49020,060
28Special Education Teachers, All Other$109,600
Bachelor's degree
$73,930 – $120,8604,230
29Civil Engineers$108,640
Bachelor's degree
$72,860 – $170,67016,340
30Project Management Specialists$108,310
Bachelor's degree
$65,540 – $185,22038,540
31Physical Therapists$108,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,580 – $160,0709,750
32Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$108,030
Associate's degree
$64,070 – $154,8606,450
33Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film$107,620
Bachelor's degree
$56,480 – $154,2403,540
34Web Developers$107,290
Bachelor's degree
$55,670 – $166,9902,310
35Computer Programmers$107,090
Bachelor's degree
$61,700 – $160,4603,400
36Web and Digital Interface Designers$106,550
Bachelor's degree
$58,100 – $201,3209,220
37Network and Computer Systems Administrators$106,290
Bachelor's degree
$70,870 – $159,7508,770
38Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$105,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,340 – $175,45014,070
39Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$105,340
Bachelor's degree
$60,350 – $161,9702,520
40Respiratory Therapists$104,640
Associate's degree
$75,000 – $130,7907,010
41Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$102,610
Bachelor's degree
$58,860 – $142,9005,550
42Financial and Investment Analysts$102,260
Bachelor's degree
$67,500 – $181,19019,600
43Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$101,860
Bachelor's degree
$62,250 – $129,13044,790
44Special Education Teachers, Middle School$101,560
Bachelor's degree
$77,520 – $127,6602,030
45Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$100,960
Bachelor's degree
$67,190 – $133,85032,250
46Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$100,900
Bachelor's degree
$61,390 – $131,2003,920
47Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,370
Bachelor's degree
$62,610 – $124,72012,780
48Operations Research Analysts$98,270
Bachelor's degree
$62,420 – $161,6603,480
49Teachers and Instructors, All Other$97,680
Bachelor's degree
$47,680 – $129,1408,300
50Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$97,510
Master's degree
$54,600 – $134,1003,270

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianLos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$194,410	$93,980 – $375,440	41,580
2	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$163,280	$108,330 – $227,440	5,200
3	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$161,890	$99,570 – $220,580	3,890
4	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$161,470	$119,950 – $216,180	10,060
5	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$160,920	$98,270 – $223,150	55,540
6	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$160,080	$67,410 – $284,050	2,740
7	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$157,440	$62,800 – $209,060	12,450
8	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$140,530	$84,020 – $212,590	4,880
9	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$139,990	$74,510 – $219,380	6,300
10	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$139,780	$79,230 – $209,460	8,970
11	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,940	$73,540 – $209,530	2,360
12	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$135,560	$100,980 – $174,200	109,360
13	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$134,890	$78,270 – $165,330	8,520
14	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$129,740	$71,080 – $208,280	9,850
15	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,810	$61,430 – $208,310	2,150
16	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,470	$60,910 – $262,270	2,050
17	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$125,060	$72,110 – $187,640	7,530
18	Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsBachelor's degree	$124,590	$64,740 – $206,900	4,650
19	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$123,900	$77,040 – $173,340	8,780
20	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$122,980	$56,800 – $137,310	7,940
21	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$122,210	$60,660 – $170,880	7,200
22	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$122,040	$82,840 – $154,730	4,950
23	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$121,560	$76,430 – $165,620	16,900
24	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$119,430	$57,180 – $168,360	3,550
25	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$113,040	$78,320 – $166,090	11,460
26	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$112,540	$60,900 – $168,050	2,280
27	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$109,700	$49,720 – $203,490	20,060
28	Special Education Teachers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$109,600	$73,930 – $120,860	4,230
29	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$108,640	$72,860 – $170,670	16,340
30	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$108,310	$65,540 – $185,220	38,540
31	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$108,170	$85,580 – $160,070	9,750
32	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$108,030	$64,070 – $154,860	6,450
33	Camera Operators, Television, Video, and FilmBachelor's degree	$107,620	$56,480 – $154,240	3,540
34	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$107,290	$55,670 – $166,990	2,310
35	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$107,090	$61,700 – $160,460	3,400
36	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$106,550	$58,100 – $201,320	9,220
37	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$106,290	$70,870 – $159,750	8,770
38	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$105,640	$60,340 – $175,450	14,070
39	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$105,340	$60,350 – $161,970	2,520
40	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,640	$75,000 – $130,790	7,010
41	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$102,610	$58,860 – $142,900	5,550
42	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,260	$67,500 – $181,190	19,600
43	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$101,860	$62,250 – $129,130	44,790
44	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$101,560	$77,520 – $127,660	2,030
45	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$100,960	$67,190 – $133,850	32,250
46	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$100,900	$61,390 – $131,200	3,920
47	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$98,370	$62,610 – $124,720	12,780
48	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$98,270	$62,420 – $161,660	3,480
49	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$97,680	$47,680 – $129,140	8,300
50	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$97,510	$54,600 – $134,100	3,270

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

By field in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

More for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Other metro areas in CA

By field in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state