Moving States?
What does my job pay there?
New York, NY → Los Angeles, CA
Narrow both sides to a metro area for city wages, which can differ sharply from the state average.
787 jobs, most common first.
| Job | New York | Los Angeles | Differenceafter costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $39,680 | $34,320 | -$5,360 -14% -$7,565 |
| Retail Salespersons | $38,280 | $37,700 | -$580 -2% -$3,020 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,420 | $42,110 | +$6,690 +19% +$3,870 |
| Registered Nurses | $119,720 | $135,560 | +$15,840 +13% +$11,306 |
| Cashiers | $35,950 | $36,980 | +$1,030 +3% -$1,547 |
| General and Operations Managers | $157,000 | $125,830 | -$31,170 -20% -$31,955 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $42,840 | $38,720 | -$4,120 -10% -$6,276 |
| Office Clerks, General | $47,670 | $48,100 | +$430 +1% -$1,829 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,290 | $42,390 | -$900 -2% -$3,171 |
| Security Guards | $43,980 | $40,030 | -$3,950 -9% -$6,077 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,610 | $35,850 | -$11,760 -25% -$13,461 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,600 | $38,650 | +$50 +0% -$2,405 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $49,590 | $48,840 | -$750 -2% -$2,916 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $105,650 | $94,360 | -$11,290 -11% -$13,066 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $51,440 | $53,550 | +$2,110 +4% -$207 |
Estimates only. Not financial, tax, or career advice, and not an offer of employment or credit.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. Figures are metro-area medians across all experience levels, industries, and employers, for the 787 occupations BLS publishes for these places. The pay figures themselves are not adjusted for cost of living (the after-costs line under each difference is where that comes off), and they will not match any particular job, employer, or offer. The after-costs figure is computed renting, on a median household income, against the same assumptions the state-to-state comparison pages use, so the two agree. Pay within a metro area varies widely by employer, experience, credentials, and speciality. Do not rely on these figures when deciding whether to move or accept a role.