Professor Salary in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living (index: 173). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Professor Salary in Los Angeles — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Los Angeles
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a metro population of 13,200,000, offering a large, diverse job market with many employers across all industries. The 5.3% unemployment rate is near the national average.
Financial Calculators for Los Angeles
Other Professions in Los Angeles
Professor Salary — Other California Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Professor make in Los Angeles, CA?
The estimated median salary for a Professor in Los Angeles is $145,977 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $84,380 adjusted by Los Angeles's cost of living index (173). The typical salary range runs from $99,648 (25th percentile) to $211,856 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $292,232.
Is Los Angeles affordable for a Professor?
On a $145,977 annual salary, a Professor in Los Angeles would spend approximately 16.9% of gross monthly income on median rent ($2,050/month). This is well within the 28% affordability threshold, making Los Angeles relatively affordable for this profession. The median home price of $860,000 is 5.9× the annual salary.
How does a Professor's salary compare to Los Angeles's overall income?
Los Angeles's median household income is $76,000. A Professor earning the city-adjusted median of $145,977 earns 92.1% more than the typical Los Angeles household — placing them solidly in the middle-to-upper income tier for the city.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.