Taper Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Tapers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $68,020 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $53,568 take-home, or $4,464 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median taper salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,134
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$986
- California income tax$2,229
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$884
- Take-home pay$53,568
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Taper pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,850 | $22.52 | $38,352 | $3,196 |
| 25th percentile | $55,340 | $26.61 | $44,556 | $3,713 |
| Median (50th) | $68,020 | $32.70 | $53,568 | $4,464 |
| 75th percentile | $80,510 | $38.71 | $61,164 | $5,097 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,830 | $54.73 | $81,073 | $6,756 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $68,020 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 taper's $53,568 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,169 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 2.4× the national concentration of taper jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for tapers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #6 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $92,810 | $68,514 | $62,046 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $80,340 | $65,349 | $58,803 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,840 | $63,751 | $55,142 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,670 | $50,928 | $50,819 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,430 | $49,434 | $47,847 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $68,020 | $53,568 | $47,169 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $59,740 | $47,771 | $44,879 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Taper salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $92,810
- San Francisco, CA — $84,840
- Riverside, CA — $59,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a taper make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median taper salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $68,020 a year, or about $32.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,340 and $80,510.
What is a taper’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $68,020 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $53,568 a year ($4,464 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,114 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a taper?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $68,270. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,169 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #6 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a taper 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) — 50% of a median taper’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer — $140,600
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical — $124,090
- Construction and Building Inspector — $100,280
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $97,600
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $92,890
- Pipelayer — $80,260
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $78,040
- Carpenter — $75,740
- Electrician — $73,810
- Sheet Metal Worker — $72,710
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $71,110
- Helpers--Carpenter — $64,810