Southland workers had an average hourly wage of $25.30 in May 2013, about 13 percent higher than the nationwide average of $22.33, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on June 3.
Those employed in the legal profession in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale region were the top earners locally, drawing hourly wages of $60.51 – 26 percent more than their colleagues elsewhere in the country, according to the BLS.
In second place locally were management occupations, which offered an average hourly wage of $59.51, about 12 percent more than the average hourly pay nationwide.
The greater Los Angeles area was also the top-paying region of the country for photographers – who earned an average hourly wage of $30.18 in May 2013 – and auto damage insurance appraisers, whose average wage was $37.68 an hour.
“Wages in the local area were significantly higher than their respective national averages in 19 of the 22 major occupational groups, including arts, design, entertainment, sports and media,” according to a BLS statement.
The lowest average hourly wage listed locally was $10.72 paid to those employed in food preparation and serving. The wage was still 3 percent higher than the national average, according to the BLS.
The data does not include cost-of-living details for the various regions of the country.
