Baker Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Bakers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $39,260 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,655 take-home, or $2,721 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median baker salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,531
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,434
- Medicare (1.45%)$569
- California income tax$560
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$510
- Take-home pay$32,655
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Baker pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,780 | $17.68 | $30,794 | $2,566 |
| 25th percentile | $37,950 | $18.25 | $31,672 | $2,639 |
| Median (50th) | $39,260 | $18.88 | $32,655 | $2,721 |
| 75th percentile | $46,710 | $22.46 | $38,247 | $3,187 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,120 | $24.10 | $40,743 | $3,395 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,260 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median baker's $32,655 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,754 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baker jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for bakers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #16 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $48,180 | $40,893 | $36,796 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $42,490 | $35,160 | $33,238 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $46,600 | $38,164 | $33,010 |
| 4 | Riverside, CA | $41,790 | $34,554 | $32,463 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $43,440 | $34,113 | $32,359 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $36,580 | $30,621 | $31,455 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $37,800 | $31,816 | $30,795 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $37,140 | $30,717 | $30,699 |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,260 | $32,655 | $28,754 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: bakers
Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods. Pastry chefs in restaurants and hotels are included with "Chefs and Head Cooks" (35-1011).
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.5% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Baker salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $46,600
- Riverside, CA — $41,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median baker salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $39,260 a year, or about $18.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,950 and $46,710.
What is a baker’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $39,260 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,655 a year ($2,721 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,070 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a baker?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $37,160. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,754 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #16 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a baker afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 82% of a median baker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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