Cost of hiring a marketing specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach pays marketing specialists less than California as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $82,990 a year[1]: 12.4% below the California statewide median of $94,700 and 5.4% above the US median of $78,760. Nationally that is #19 of 516 areas, in the top tenth. With about 39,390 marketing specialists, 33% of the California total, no area in California employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1161, 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 | $48,720 | $82,990 | $157,370 | |
| California | $48,440 | $94,700 | $181,600 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in Los Angeles-Long Beach earns $64,060–$120,960. The top tenth earns $157,370 or more, 3.2 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 3.6 times. The mean ($95,930) is 16% 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 marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,720 | $4,060 | $23.42 | $69,600 |
| 25th percentile | $64,060 | $5,338 | $30.80 | $91,514 |
| Median | $82,990 | $6,916 | $39.90 | $118,557 |
| 75th percentile | $120,960 | $10,080 | $58.15 | $172,800 |
| 90th percentile | $157,370 | $13,114 | $75.66 | $224,814 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $18,930 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $37,970, or about $54,243 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
At the $82,990 median, a local hire costs about $118,557 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $35,567 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for marketing specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Of the 17 roles we track in Los Angeles-Long Beach, this one ranks #3 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $108,310 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,280.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +30.5% | 38,540 | |
| Accountant | +13.7% | 70,640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 39,390 | |
| Executive Assistant | -0.2% | 20,850 | |
| Recruiter | -3.3% | 36,850 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -4.3% | 50,470 | |
| Office Manager | -6.6% | 54,340 | |
| Paralegal | -6.6% | 22,240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -21.6% | 6,600 | |
| Bookkeeper | -29.4% | 53,910 | |
| HR Assistant | -30.6% | 3,890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -35.5% | 58,800 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -38.1% | 40,380 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -41.1% | 66,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -43.3% | 5,900 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -43.9% | 5,740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -47.8% | 35,000 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $60,540 in El Centro to $141,960 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $81,420 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Los Angeles-Long Beach | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +71.1% | 12,710 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | +48.5% | 24,120 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | this area | 39,390 | |
| Napa, CA | -1.9% | 390 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (Nonmetro) | -3.0% | 370 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | -3.5% | 1,570 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | -4.0% | 960 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA?
About $118,557 a year at the median, or $9,880 a month: $82,990 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 is the pay range for marketing specialists in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
The median was $82,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,720, the 90th $157,370, and the middle half earned $64,060 to $120,960.
Is Los Angeles-Long Beach cheaper than the rest of California for marketing specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $82,990 against $94,700 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($141,960) and El Centro the least ($60,540).
How many marketing specialists work in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
BLS counts about 39,390 in the May 2025 survey. That is 33% of the California total of 119,070.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than an executive assistant in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
Yes: $140 a year more at the median. The medians are $82,990 and $82,850.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131161.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.