How to Hire in Los Angeles: Best Tips for Hiring in LA in 2025

Why Hire in LA? The Benefits of Hiring in Los Angeles 

A Global Gateway to the Pacific

Los Angeles has long been a leading hub for international trade and investment, benefiting from its position as the US’s primary gateway to Asia-Pacific markets and a significant draw for labor from around the world.

The Los Angeles–Long Beach port complex is the busiest in the United States, handling more than $500 billion in annual trade. LA’s GDP now exceeds $1.2 trillion (2025), placing it among the top city economies globally and also rivalling many national economies.

While best known as the entertainment capital of the world, being the home to Hollywood studios and global streaming giants, LA is equally influential in aerospace, clean technology, life sciences, fashion, and advanced manufacturing. Today, its economy blends global corporate power with thriving local business ecosystems, making it a highly versatile talent market that offers a lot of opportunity.

A Deep, Diverse Talent Pool

Greater Los Angeles is home to nearly 10 million residents and represents one of the most diverse workforces in the world. Over 185 languages are spoken in the region, and according to the US Census Bureau, more than 40% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, bringing almost unique access to specialized skills across multiple industries and demographics.

Aside from the inherently varied demographic opportunities LA presents, the wider region’s higher education ecosystem, led by institutions like UCLA, USC, and Caltech, consistently produces new graduates at the cutting edge of technology, science, and the arts.

Finally, while California’s labor laws tend to favor employees with generous protections and benefits, the exceptional talent pool more than justifies the additional obligations for employers, who still benefit from many business-friendly federal laws.

Strategic Location and Infrastructure

Los Angeles offers unparalleled air connectivity with the rest of the US as well as other global markets.

With LAX ranking as the fifth busiest airport in the world as well as serving over 100 international destinations, combined with major freight and digital infrastructure, LA provides a particularly strategic base for companies targeting North American, Latin American, and Asian markets.

Innovation Incentives and Government Support

California actively promotes industry growth through tax credits and incentive programs for employers, with Los Angeles offering its own local initiatives to attract investment in creative tech, green energy, and manufacturing.

Programs like the California Competes Tax Credit and LA’s Cleantech Incubator (LACI) provide especially strong funding and business support for high-growth sectors.

Business-Ready Facilities and Flexible Workspaces

From the corporate towers of Downtown LA to creative offices in Santa Monica and co-working spaces in Culver City, the city is a web of diverse commercial real estate areas with hubs accommodating companies of all sizes.

Flexible leases, modern coworking spaces, and advanced broadband connectivity make for multiple ways for companies to enter the market in LA, as best fit their growth strategy.

Legal Requirements for Hiring Employees in LA

Hiring in Los Angeles requires adherence to both strict federal and state labor laws, which vary depending on a company’s size, business, and other specific factors. This dual-layered approach to labor law, along with additional local ordinances affecting some areas and sectors that often go beyond other standards, means California is known for robust employee protections, which can be challenging for employers unfamiliar with the system.

Employers are highly recommended to spend more time than usual understanding how their business may potentially interact with labor laws at different levels or across jurisdictions before initiating a hiring project. This complication is one of the primary reasons why many international businesses partner with Employer of Record (EOR) providers like INS Global to ensure smooth and compliant hiring processes.

Employment Contracts – At-Will Employment with Required Notices

Like most US states, and despite a reputation for stronger employee protections, California still generally operates under “at-will” employment, allowing either the employer or employee to terminate the relationship at any time.

However, state and local law require employers to go through additional steps in terms of employment, such as providing written notices regarding pay rates, work schedules, and certain benefits upon hiring.

Taxation and Payroll Withholding in LA

Employers in Los Angeles must handle multi-layered tax responsibilities, including:

• FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) – 7.65% employer contribution for Social Security and Medicare
• FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act) – 0.6% on the first $7,000 of wages
• California State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) – 1.5%–6.2% depending on employer experience
• California Employment Training Tax (ETT) – 0.1% on the first $7,000 of wages

While California does not impose a city-level payroll tax for most employers, employees pay state income tax (ranging from 1% to 13.3%) in addition to federal taxes, something that companies bringing in talent from outside of the state will have to consider and may have to adjust compensation packages to keep employees satisfied.

In LA, as in the rest of the US, while employers are responsible for withholding and remitting these taxes, individuals are responsible for filing their own annual tax returns. However, offering assistance with tax filing may be something that companies employing foreign workers consider as a benefit when bringing workers to the US.

Mandatory Benefits and Leave Requirements

California, and so by extension Los Angeles, has some of the most generous employee benefit mandates in the US, including:

• Paid Sick Leave – At least 40 hours annually under California’s Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act, with LA ordinances often requiring more for local employers
• Paid Family Leave (PFL) – Up to 8 weeks of partial wage replacement, funded through employee payroll deductions
• Disability Insurance (SDI) – State-mandated short-term disability coverage for eligible employees
• Mandatory Health Insurance – Required for companies with 50+ full-time equivalent employees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Work Authorization and Visa Sponsorship

Foreign nationals must hold valid US work authorization to be employed in Los Angeles. Common visa options for international hires include:

• H-1B Visa – For specialized occupations, capped annually
• L-1 Visa – For intra-company transfers of executives, managers, or specialized knowledge workers
• O-1 Visa – For individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, or business

Given California’s high demand for skilled foreign workers, local competition for visas can be intense, and processing times are often lengthy.

To compensate, partnering with local hiring experts can help employers streamline the sponsorship process through expert legal coordination and avoid costly compliance errors.

LA Hiring Market Trends in 2025

In 2025, Los Angeles remains one of the most competitive hiring markets in the United States, driven by demand for skilled professionals across various industries, including entertainment, technology, aerospace, clean energy, logistics, and healthcare.

As of mid-2025, LA’s unemployment rate hovers around 4.9% according to state statistics, which is slightly above the national average but still low by historical standards. While job creation in tech, green industries, and healthcare is steady, it has not kept pace with employer demand, ensuring that competition for top-tier candidates remains fierce.

Despite broader national economic fluctuations, LA’s economy has remained resilient and focused on future-proofing, fueled by strong wage growth and an expanding innovation sector that draws attention from global investors. Employers must adapt to a workforce that places high value on competitive compensation, hybrid or flexible work arrangements, and clearly defined career growth opportunities.

To stand out in this market, foreign companies are increasingly looking to offer benefits packages that exceed local expectations or partner with specialized recruitment providers like INS Global, which can inform talent acquisition strategies and keep goals in line with local standards and best practices.

Recruitment Strategies in LA

The Los Angeles recruitment environment is fast-paced, diverse, and highly network-driven, blending modern digital sourcing with traditional relationship-based hiring. Employers looking to hire in LA can benefit from a highly modernized labor market incorporating multiple platforms, industries, and professional networks.

Online Job Boards and Platforms in LA

LinkedIn is the primary professional networking tool for mid- and senior-level recruitment, particularly in entertainment business roles, tech, and corporate functions.

Other high-traffic platforms include Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter, while more niche sites like Staff Me Up (for film/TV production), AngelList (for startups), and Built In LA (for the tech community) cater to specialized hiring needs and round out the options, providing multiple channels of recruitment for every type of hiring project.

University and Campus Recruiting

The wider LA area is home to many world-renowned institutions like UCLA, USC, Caltech, Loyola Marymount University, and California State University–Los Angeles. As a result, many forward-thinking local employers maintain close ties with these schools through internships, capstone projects, and direct recruitment pipelines, bringing long-term hiring benefits as well as greater integration into the local labor market.

The city’s university-hosted career fairs are easy ways to approach entry-level talent, and are particularly influential in industries like aerospace, biotech, and entertainment, while regional collaborations often attract students from other West Coast institutions.

Executive Search and Recruitment Firms

Given LA’s industry diversity and high concentration of specialized talent, executive search firms play a key role in sourcing leadership-level candidates.

Global firms like Korn Ferry (headquartered in LA) and Robert Half are giant organizations that operate alongside boutique recruiters who specialize in niches like creative production, renewable energy, or bilingual talent placement.

Of particular note to employers looking to not only hire from the LA talent pool but also explore the local market, a locally-based EOR partner like INS Global can help foreign employers maintain compliance with California’s strict labor laws without the need for setting up a local business structure first.

Hiring Skilled Workers vs. Entry-Level Talent in LA

Los Angeles offers opportunities to local and global talent at every career stage, but employers can also benefit from hiring talent to fill any gap needed by creating hiring strategies that reflect differences in salary expectations, benefits priorities, and career development needs.

Hiring Skilled Workers in LA

Los Angeles naturally attracts senior-level professionals from across the US and abroad, particularly in entertainment, aerospace, life sciences, logistics, and green technology.

Many continue to view relocation to LA as both a great lifestyle and career opportunity with little in the way of true competition in the Western US, but as a result, competition among employers for these individuals is particularly intense.

Competitive Compensation and Benefits

• Salaries – LA’s cost of living, while slightly below other cities in California like San Francisco, still drives wages far above the national average. For example, mid-level software engineers may earn $120,000–$160,000, while senior marketing managers might command $110,000–$150,000.
• Benefits – Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), generous PTO (15–25 days), and retirement plans that mandate higher than average employer contributions are standard expectations, meaning truly competitive employers must go beyond expectations to hire the best in LA.
• Housing & Transportation Perks – Employers relocating skilled professionals may need to offer housing stipends or relocation bonuses to offset such of the country’s highest property prices, while commuter benefits help offset LA’s extensive travel times and widely-maligned internal transportation infrastructure.

Career Advancement and Development: Talent Acquisition Challenges in LA

Skilled professionals in LA are known to prioritize long-term growth and creative opportunity, meaning employers that offer leadership development, specialized technical training, or global mobility programs tend to retain talent longer.

As a result, support for industry certifications, professional memberships, and participation in high-profile projects is particularly valuable in competitive sectors.

High-demand industries like streaming tech, aerospace engineering, and clean energy will often see candidates fielding multiple offers. A common bargaining tool now used across these industries is to offer flexible work arrangements. With remote or flexile options increasingly expected, many professionals will immediately decline roles without at least partial remote work options.

Hiring Entry-Level Talent in LA

With its vast university network, internship culture, and creative economy, Los Angeles attracts and produces thousands of work-ready graduates and immigrants annually. However, employers face considerable challenges in retaining and providing fast career progression opportunities.

1. LA’s Emerging Talent Pipeline – The region’s universities create tens of thousands of students annually in every kind of discipline imaginable, from film production to engineering. Community colleges and trade schools also supply particularly highly skilled vocational talent, particularly in media, design, and technical trades.

As a result, the LA pipeline for entry-level talent is highly diverse, reflecting LA’s multicultural demographics, which means many workers may be bilingual or multilingual (with particularly large groups of Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean speakers).

Many students may also engage with the multitude of side projects, startups, or creative ventures made possible in LA’s vibrant small business ecosystem before graduation, meaning even entry-level talent might come with valuable experience in key fields.

2. Common Recruitment Strategies for Entry-Level Talent

• Internship-to-Hire Programs – Structured internships, often tied to senior-year capstone projects, are commonly seen as natural first steps for students or recent graduates in white-collar industries, allowing employers to secure high-potential candidates early with little financial risk.
• University Presence & Branding – Active participation in campus events and career fairs, as well as showcasing company culture on social platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Handshake, helps attract young, digitally literate, candidates.

3. Addressing High Turnover Rates – Turnover among entry-level workers in LA is often linked to cost-of-living pressures and the competitive job-hopping culture. Entry-level salaries typically range from $50,000–$70,000, which can make retention challenging in high-cost-of-living LA. Entry-level candidates also increasingly value demonstrated diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments, with transparency throughout the hiring process being a competitive advantage.

Employers can mitigate turnover by offering:

• Clear advancement pathways and professional development budgets
• Flexible scheduling or hybrid work to improve work-life balance
• Purpose-driven projects that align with social and environmental values important to younger workers

Cultural Considerations

Language Diversity & Communication

English is the primary language used in Los Angeles workplaces, but the region is one of the most linguistically diverse in the US, reflecting its position as a global gateway to the Pacific Rim and Latin America. Entire LA communities are bilingual or multilingual, with Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Armenian, and Farsi, being highly represented languages in the LA workforce, among many others. For client-facing roles, industry-specific positions, and teams working in multicultural neighborhoods, knowledge of one or more of these languages can be a major asset.

While English fluency remains the standard expectation, internal communications may need to account for varied cultural norms, communication preferences, and idiomatic differences, particularly for businesses targeting local niche markets or global operations.

Work Culture & Professional Norms

Los Angeles work culture famously blends West Coast informality with industry-specific competitive intensity, leading a unique and challenging work culture for international employers.

In more creative industries, collaboration and fluid hierarchies are common enough to be expected, while other more technical sectors like aerospace and healthcare may retain more formal structures. Across the board, however, adaptability, innovation, and networking are highly valued by employers as well as potential employees.

LA professionals often appreciate a balanced approach to work where productivity is prized, but so is work-life integration. In particular, given long commute times that tend to keep work and social spaces in the same areas, as well as the city’s strong outdoor and cultural lifestyle, relationship-building often extends beyond the office, with networking events, industry mixers, and community involvement serving as key career drivers.

LA’s Key Industries for Hiring Companies

Los Angeles is home to as uniquely diverse an economic base as its demographic one, with global leadership in multiple high-profile sectors. These industries are supported by a mix of long-standing infrastructure, innovation hubs, and public–private investment partnerships.

Entertainment & Media

Hollywood continues to be LA’s most globally recognized brand, powering a massive creative ecosystem of traditional film, television, and music, as well as streaming and game production. Streaming platforms, post-production facilities, and global distribution companies today all fuel new demand for talent in everything from screenwriting to special effects engineering.

Technology & Artificial Intelligence (AI)

LA’s tech scene, particularly in Silicon Beach (Santa Monica, Venice, Playa Vista), has grown into a serious rival to Northern California. The city’s AI and e-commerce startups alone attract billions in venture capital annually. For example, 2024 saw over $15 billion in tech investment with growth expected to accelerate in the next few years.

AI in creative production, healthtech, and autonomous systems is a particular regional strength that looks set to grow quickly in the coming decade.

Aerospace & Defense

Anchored by companies like SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing, LA County remains a global aerospace hub where demand for engineers, technicians, and specialized manufacturing staff continues to rise. Government contracts and private space exploration both drive expansion in this area, with companies able to work with local government offices, benefiting greatly from the stability provided by a state highly interested in investment.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

LA’s healthcare and biotech industries are supported by top hospitals (e.g. UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai) and research institutions. Growth in biotech clusters, particularly in regenerative medicine and medical devices, has already created steady demand for both scientific and clinical talent, with more expected in the near future.

International Trade & Logistics

The combined Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach today handle over 40% of US containerized imports, making logistics, supply chain management, and maritime services major employers in the area.

AI-powered logistics solutions are also newly emerging as a competitive advantage for companies operating in this space.

Green Technology & Advanced Manufacturing

California’s environmental policies that promote and support companies involved in environmental causes have positioned LA as a leader in clean tech, electric vehicle production, and sustainable building solutions. Advanced manufacturing linked to aerospace, EVs, and renewable energy is also increasingly important and supported by regional innovation centers.

How International Employers Can Navigate Hiring in LA Easily

• Communication Strategies – Tailor onboarding and training for a culturally and linguistically diverse workforce, with multilingual resources where possible or necessary.
• Targeted Industries – For creative, aerospace, logistics, and tech sectors, work with recruitment partners who understand local industry culture and regulatory specifics and can suggest competitive compensation and benefits packages.
• Accessing Talent Streams – Make the most of potential connections with UCLA, USC, Caltech, and local incubators like LACI or Amplify.LA to reach specialized talent early.

Why an EOR Partner Helps Define the Best Paths to Hiring in LA

Working with a local Employer of Record like INS Global allows international companies to hire in LA without first establishing a legal entity in the US.

An EOR provides expert guidance and end-to-end HR functions management, including onboarding, payroll, benefits, and compliance with California labor laws. This is especially valuable in regulated industries like healthcare, aerospace, and entertainment, where union rules, bonus structures, and complex contractor classifications can complicate hiring.

Employee Compensation in LA

Average employee compensation in Los Angeles is among the highest in the US, driven by both cost-of-living pressures and the need to attract talent away from competing hubs like San Francisco, Seattle, and Austin.

At the same time, while salaries are competitive, housing and transportation costs can significantly reduce purchasing power, making strong benefits packages a must.

Competitive Salary Trends in Key Industries

• Technology & IT – Mid-level software engineers: $115,000–$155,000; senior AI engineers: $170,000–$220,000.
• Entertainment & Media – Experienced production managers: $90,000–$140,000; post-production supervisors: $80,000–$120,000.
• Aerospace & Engineering – Aerospace engineers: $105,000–$150,000; specialized systems engineers: $130,000–$180,000.
• Healthcare & Life Sciences – Registered nurses: $80,000–$110,000; biomedical researchers: $95,000–$140,000.
• Logistics & Trade – Supply chain managers: $90,000–$130,000; port operations supervisors: $75,000–$110,000.

Most Common Additional Employee Benefits in LA

• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, dental, and vision plans are standard for full-time employees; mental health benefits and telehealth are increasingly common.
• Retirement Plans – 401(k) plans with 3–6% employer match, sometimes supplemented by profit-sharing in smaller firms.
• Paid Time Off – Many employers offer 10–20 vacation days plus 7–10 paid holidays; personal and mental wellness days are growing in popularity.
• Transportation & Relocation Support – Parking stipends, pre-tax commuter benefits, or relocation bonuses to help offset high housing and commuting costs.
• Flexible & Hybrid Arrangements – Partial remote work, compressed schedules, and flexible hours are now expected in many industries.

The Most Common Hiring Challenges in LA

• Complex Labor Regulations – California’s labor laws are among the strictest in the US, covering minimum wage, overtime, worker classification, and meal/rest break compliance.
• High Labor Costs – Competitive salaries plus legally mandated benefits increase total employment costs.
• Retention Challenges – With multiple growth industries, skilled employees often have competing offers, leading to job-hopping.
• Union & Guild Influence – In industries like entertainment, construction, and logistics, union rules affect hiring flexibility and compensation structures.
• Visa Sponsorship & Immigration – Los Angeles is a top destination for international talent, but visa caps and long processing times make early planning essential.

Given these factors, many foreign employers take advantage of the assistance that a local hiring expert can provide to manage hiring, payroll, and compliance, allowing leadership to focus on growth.

Alternative Hiring Solutions for Global Employers

Independent Contractors in Los Angeles

Contracting, whether through gig work, creative projects, or freelance arrangements, is a defining feature of Los Angeles’ diverse economy, as the city is well-known for its “grind” mentality. As a result, companies in every sector, from entertainment and design to tech and professional services, often rely on independent contractors for flexibility, specialized skills, or short-term support.

That said, California applies some of the strictest worker classification rules in the US, making contractor misclassification a serious risk. Under California’s “ABC Test,” misclassification (treating a worker as a contractor when they legally qualify as an employee) can lead to serious consequences, including back wages, tax liabilities, penalties, and legal disputes.

This test looks at the core features of a working relationship and determines…

• Autonomy – Contractors must maintain full control over how, when, and where they perform their work.
• Business independence – Contractors should operate as their own business, often serving multiple clients and marketing their services to the public.
• Core activity – If the worker performs tasks central to the company’s usual business, they are likely considered an employee under California law.

To stay compliant in Los Angeles, businesses should use clear, detailed contractor agreements that outline scope, deliverables, payment terms, and responsibilities. Even then, it’s crucial to regularly review classification in light of California’s evolving labor standards.

Establishing a US Entity vs. Using an Employer of Record (EOR)

Setting Up a Local Entity – Opening a California subsidiary provides strong local presence and direct control over operations. However, it also involves significant cost, time, and administrative complexity, including:

• Business registration and city-specific licensing requirements
• Federal, state, and local tax filings
• Payroll setup and HR compliance
• Workers’ compensation and insurance coverage
• Adherence to California’s extensive labor and employment laws

For foreign companies, forming an entity in Los Angeles can take months and requires ongoing resources to manage compliance.

Alternatively, partnering with a US-based EOR like INS Global allows businesses to hire employees in Los Angeles quickly and compliantly without establishing a legal entity. The EOR becomes the official employer of record, managing:

• Onboarding and employment contracts
• Payroll and tax withholdings
• Benefits administration in line with California standards
• Compliance with federal, state, and Los Angeles labor laws

This approach reduces hiring timelines from months to weeks and lowers compliance risks in one of the most heavily regulated labor markets in the country.

EORs – The Fastest and Safest Way to Hire in Los Angeles

Los Angeles offers unparalleled access to talent across diverse industries, including technology, entertainment, and international trade. But entering the market without local HR and compliance expertise can be risky and expensive. From California’s unique worker classification laws to complex payroll and benefits requirements, the challenges add up quickly.

Instead, with INS Global as your EOR partner, you can:

• Hire in Los Angeles without setting up a US entity
• Ensure compliance with California’s strict labor laws
• Access local expertise on competitive compensation and hiring practices
• Onboard top talent in a fraction of the usual time

Looking to grow your team in Los Angeles? INS Global’s local HR specialists can help you hire efficiently, safely, and confidently, so you can focus on scaling your business while we handle compliance.