Psychology Degree in Los Angeles, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Psychology degree analysis for Los Angeles, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$62K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$92K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10 yrs
in Los Angeles
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Psychology in Los Angeles, CA Overview
Los Angeles is one of California's top college towns, with 69 institutions and a student population of 322,771. Public tuition averages $13,804/year here — near the national average for public universities. Psychology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Los Angeles is approximately $62,040.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
69
Public Tuition
$13,804/yr
Private Tuition
$59,151/yr
Room & Board
$17,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,255/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Psychology Salary in Los Angeles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Psychology salary: $44,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Los Angeles adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Psychology ROI Calculator for Los Angeles
Estimate your return on investment for a Psychology degree using local Los Angeles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,804 | Private avg: $59,151
Los Angeles avg aid: $8,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,690
vs HS diploma in Los Angeles
ROI Payback Period
10 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Los Angeles
$323,992
Lifetime earnings premium ($451,200) minus total education cost ($127,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Psychology in Los Angeles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Los Angeles for Psychology
UCLA
public
$13,804/yr
$55,216 total
USC
private
$63,468/yr
$253,872 total
Loyola Marymount University
private
$54,834/yr
$219,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Los Angeles City College
$1,540/yr
Santa Monica College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Psychology in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Psychology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Los Angeles Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Psychology Job Titles
Psychology in Nearby California Cities
San Diego, CA
$62K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$57K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$50K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$52K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$49K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$51K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$58K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$59K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Los Angeles
International Relations
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$68K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$71K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$71K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$71K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$62K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Psychology Degree in Los Angeles — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Psychology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Los Angeles.