A hub of breathtaking views, myriad cultures and the iconic home of the Hollywood sign — it is no wonder that Los Angeles, California is home to millions of diverse people and remains a city many dream of building their lives in.
Perhaps you are drawn to the beautiful beaches and warm weather or you like the fast-paced life of the city; maybe you know that you want to live in the City of Angels but you are unsure exactly what you’ll do when you get here.
A wide variety of fields in Los Angeles are expanding every year. Whether you want to create amongst one of the nation’s creative minds or want to analyze data at a corporate level, LA has a job for you.
Continue reading to learn more about which jobs in Los Angeles have the highest demand, growth rate and pay — in other words, here are some of the best jobs in Los Angeles.
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What are the most popular job fields in Los Angeles?
As one of the largest cities in the nation, Los Angeles is home to a wide variety of job opportunities. If you are unsure what you want to obtain a degree in or what doors your degree will open for you, check out some of the biggest job industries and careers within each industry below.
1. Business
The business arena holds some of LA’s fastest growing career options. The realm of business and financial operations makes up 6.4 percent of national employment and 7 percent of LA’s employment.
Check out specific jobs in the field of business. All jobs below are expected to grow between 23.2-28.6 percent in LA employment by 2028:
- Actuaries: Actuaries are essential in the world of business, measuring and managing risk and uncertainty for business. Actuaries make about $115,236 a year.
- Operations Research Analysts: Operations research analysts evaluate the performance of a business’s practices to help companies thrive. People in this position make an average annual salary of $95,755.
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: Assess customer preferences, conditions of business and sales projections to keep businesses healthy. These positions make about $67,042 a year.
At Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles, you can pursue both your bachelor’s in business administration as well as a Master of Business Administration. A business administration degree at the Mount teaches focuses on global business, management communication, business ethics and innovative management, and lets students choose an emphasis in accounting, international business, management or marketing.
2. Film
Los Angeles is one of the world’s centers for bringing creativity to the screen. Take a look at some of the fastest-growing film jobs right in sight of the Hollywood sign, expected to grow between 17.7 percent and 19.2 percent in LA by 2028:
- Camera Operators, Television, Video and Motion Picture: Behind every great film is a great cameraman. Jobs for operating cameras across media earn an average of $66,915 annually.
- Film and Video Editors: In the age of a rapidly growing film and video industry, people with digital editing skills are needed more than ever. As a film and video editor, you might make around $91,259 a year.
At the Mount, you can pursue your Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media or an MFA in Film, Television, and Photography. Small class sizes and hands-on experience teaches students the professional and technical experience they will need to thrive in the film industry.
3. Healthcare
The healthcare industry employs tens of thousands of people in the Los Angeles area. Healthcare positions make up as much as 7-9 percent of Los Angeles’s employment rates.
Healthcare professionals work in a variety of health-related areas. Here are just a few options:
- Medical and Health Services Manager: Interested in the management side of healthcare? One of the fastest-growing jobs in the LA area, health services managers make an average annual salary of $125,236.
- Physical Therapist: Help people get back on their feet. LA is a great place to make a living as a physical therapist – on a national average, a physical therapist makes $73,030, while in LA, they make about $106,000.
- Nursing: Nursing jobs are in high demand in the Los Angeles area. Los Angeles, Long Beach and the Glendale metro area homes the second highest number of RNs in the country with 80,000 employed. The area also has one of the highest pays for nurses, with nurses making an average of $95,650 a year as compared to the national average salary of $73,550.
Mount Saint Mary’s University is here to advance people’s education across a variety of healthcare fields. By offering advanced degrees in physical therapy, nursing, psychology and healthcare administration (to name a few), the Mount is transforming the field of healthcare in California.
4. Psychology
Psychologists are both creative and critical thinkers. As such, the career paths that psychologists have access to are competitive, diverse and vast — not to mention growing and lucrative as a profession.
Psychologists can also expect to earn an impressive salary: the BLS claims that psychologists make an average salary of about $81,000. That said, recent research out of Forbes asserts that psychologists working in the state of California make an average of $124,000 per year (CA is one of the top-paying states for psychologists, along with Alaska, Illinois, Virginia and Colorado).
Here are just a couple of the career paths available in the field of psychology:
- Counseling psychologist: A master’s degree in counseling psychology will prepare students to work with clients in therapy as well as in related nonclinical careers such as research, higher education, leadership, administration or consulting.
- Clinical psychologist: A doctorate degree in clinical psychology (specifically a PysD) focuses on clinical practice — equipping students with the theoretical frameworks they will use in everyday psychotherapy sessions. A doctorate degree in psychology is also a strategic choice for those looking to open up their own private practice.
5. Social Sciences and Humanities
With Los Angeles’s rich diversity of people and cultures, jobs involved in the area of sociocultural studies thrives. In fact, jobs involved in the social sciences and humanities are some of the fastest-growing jobs in Los Angeles:
- Social Science Research Assistants: Research across social subjects to gather analyses and data and prepare information for publication. Positions have a projected 21.6 percent growth and an average salary of $50,244.
- Museum Technician and Conservators: Help keep history alive by documenting and caring for museum artifacts. This job is expected to grow by a noteworthy 20.5 percent.
At Mount Saint Mary’s University, you can earn a variety of bachelor’s degrees in the social sciences as well as a Master of Arts in Humanities. Each of these programs from MSMU instill in students a deep admiration for and understanding of cultures across the globe.
6. Data Analytics
The field of data analytics is one of today’s most popular and impactful industries.
With starting salaries between $65,000 to $115,000, it’s clear that studying data analytics provides you with a great path to making six figures. There’s also never been a better time to enter the field, as jobs are growing 25 percent over the next decade — that’s much, much quicker than the average field.
Here are just a few of the career titles you can secure within data analytics (other than the role of data analyst):
- Business analyst: Analysts working in the realm of business are tasked with making solid business growth predictions using analytics, all with the goal of making better business decisions and driving an organization’s growth.
- Financial analyst: This role includes using market research and analytics tools to make financial decisions for a variety of organizations and fields.
Secure one of the best jobs in Los Angeles through an education at Mount Saint Mary’s University.
With the variety of job opportunities around every corner in LA, you can find a place perfectly suited towards your skills and passions that will cultivate a lifelong career.
The Mount sits right at the heart of it all. With two campus locations in LA, you can immerse yourself in the community and life of Los Angeles throughout your studies. The Mount’s location also allows you to find internship and work opportunities in the city while obtaining your degree, allowing you to experience working in LA before finding a permanent job.
Do you think studying at Mount Saint Mary’s University is the next step in your career path? Request more information, or if you are ready to discuss your career goals, connect with one of our admission counselors!
Are you ready to join a strong community of agents of change at the Mount? Start your online application today.
