top 12 jobs and growing industries in los angeles, california.

Los Angeles is a city famed for its entertainment and media industry, often synonymous with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. From actors to producers, choreographers to designers, it’s a sector that employs nearly 217,000 workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But did you know that’s only 3.6 percent of total employment? There’s a whole host of other thriving industries, creating over 6.1 million roles, including some of the best remote jobs in Los Angeles.

Many of these industries support or are related to the entertainment industry, including office and administrative roles (755,830 workers), food and beverage (537,530) and business and finance (416,970). With Los Angeles International Airport a leading global aviation hub, engineering roles are both in high demand and well-paid compared to the national average, seeing a mean hourly wage of $52 versus $46. Given this high proportion of white-collar jobs in the city, healthcare is another major industry, contributing 5.4 percent of all occupations.

Here’s a rundown of the city’s top 12 hottest roles, including the best jobs in Los Angeles without a degree. Randstad research has found that LA salaries are above the national average, so we’ve given ranges for the high end of each profession.

Thanks to its wealth of healthcare, professional services and media businesses, Los Angeles is a top city for receptionists. The tourism industry is another big draw: total visitor spending for California is forecast at a massive $155 billion in 2023, of which Hollywood is a major contributor. Airlines, hotels, restaurants and leisure outlets are always on the lookout for professionals who can coordinate interactions between customers and employees. It’s one of the best jobs in Los Angeles for workers without a degree, with a salary range of between $33k and $39k.

There are nearly 13,000 civil engineers in Los Angeles across the public and private sectors. LA’s Bureau of Engineering currently has over 400 active projects, including building and upgrading bridges, sidewalks and homes. Nationwide, this profession is projected to grow 7 percent from 2021 to 2031. Civil engineer salaries range from $109k to $129k, and may be higher in Los Angeles.

LA’s healthcare industry is vast, with over 80 general acute care hospitals in the county, plus a host of specialist clinics, outpatient care centers and dentists’ offices. Surgical techs work in all of these settings to assist physicians, prep patients and help with administrative tasks. This career will grow 6 percent between 2021 and 2031 — faster than the national average — so there should be no shortage of new opportunities. In terms of salary range, expect to earn $55k to $64k.

Los Angeles International Airport is the sixth-busiest in the world according to Airports Council International, ranking above global heavyweights like JFK and London Heathrow. As a hub for carriers including American, Delta and United, it’s the epicenter of the West Coast’s aviation industry, and growth prospects are good as international travel and freight continue to increase. Aerospace engineers, who work to design and test aircraft, earn an average salary of $148k per year in Los Angeles.

For many of the same reasons, another hot tech job in LA is systems analysis. Proximity to some of the top schools in the country, including Caltech and USC, also helps, as tech companies choose to set up in Los Angeles knowing they can look to these universities for high-quality talent. Systems analysts are some of the most in-demand professionals, with the role projected to grow at a rate of 9 percent nationwide in the decade up to 2031. Professionals in this field can expect to earn around $118k per year in LA.

The production industry contributes 5 percent of total jobs in LA, employing over 300,000 people across sectors from manufacturing to food and fashion. In this profession, expect to earn between $57 and $68 per hour.