Cost of hiring a customer support specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
The median customer support specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach earned $48,840 a year in May 2025[1]. That is 9.1% above the US median of $44,770, even though it is 1.5% below the California statewide median of $49,560. Only 24 of 520 US areas pay more for this job. With about 66,590 customer support specialists, 38% of the California total, no area in California employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | $37,950 | $48,840 | $74,860 | |
| California | $38,110 | $49,560 | $75,700 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
The middle half of customer support specialists in Los Angeles-Long Beach earns $43,090–$60,300. The top tenth earns $74,860 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. The mean ($53,500) is 10% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,950 | $3,162 | $18.25 | $54,214 |
| 25th percentile | $43,090 | $3,591 | $20.72 | $61,557 |
| Median | $48,840 | $4,070 | $23.48 | $69,771 |
| 75th percentile | $60,300 | $5,025 | $28.99 | $86,143 |
| 90th percentile | $74,860 | $6,238 | $35.99 | $106,943 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,750 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $11,460, or about $16,371 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $20,931 to the $48,840 median and brings it to $69,771 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $69,771 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 5.3 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our Telegram bot with a written and a voice English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff checks English on a live call before any client interview.
Other roles in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Of the 17 roles we track in Los Angeles-Long Beach, this one ranks #14 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $108,310 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,280.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +121.8% | 38,540 | |
| Accountant | +93.2% | 70,640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +69.9% | 39,390 | |
| Executive Assistant | +69.6% | 20,850 | |
| Recruiter | +64.3% | 36,850 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +62.7% | 50,470 | |
| Office Manager | +58.7% | 54,340 | |
| Paralegal | +58.7% | 22,240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +33.2% | 6,600 | |
| Bookkeeper | +20.0% | 53,910 | |
| HR Assistant | +17.9% | 3,890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +9.6% | 58,800 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +5.3% | 40,380 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 66,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -3.7% | 5,900 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -4.6% | 5,740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -11.4% | 35,000 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $45,480 in Visalia to $60,480 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $15,000 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Los Angeles-Long Beach | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +0.7% | 2,860 | |
| Yuba City, CA | +0.7% | 480 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +0.5% | 1,350 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | this area | 66,590 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | -0.2% | 14,030 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California (Nonmetro) | -1.2% | 310 | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | -1.3% | 690 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA?
About $69,771 a year at the median, or $5,814 a month: $48,840 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do customer support specialists earn in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
The median was $48,840 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,950, the 90th $74,860, and the middle half earned $43,090 to $60,300.
Is Los Angeles-Long Beach cheaper than the rest of California for customer support specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $48,840 against $49,560 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($60,480) and Visalia the least ($45,480).
How many customer support specialists work in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
BLS counts about 66,590 in the May 2025 survey. That is 38% of the California total of 176,850.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a data entry specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
Yes: $1,800 a year more at the median. The medians are $48,840 and $47,040.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with Los Angeles-Long Beach?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $69,771 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.