TechnologyBLS OESTech HubCA Pay Transparency

AR/VR Developer Salary in Los Angeles

2026 Β· Official labour data Β· 8 comparison cities

$186,488/yr

Last updated: May 2025 Β· Source: BLS OES Survey Β· 1.1M employer sample

Typical range: $148,295 – $234,517

Very High Confidence Β· 100/100
SalaryScope Verdictβ„’
Typical Range

AR/VR Developers in Los Angeles typically earn $148K–$235K a year.

Market Median

The market median is $186K β€” half earn above, half earn below.

Top Earners

Top earners (top 10%) make $288K or more.

High-Paying Role

Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.

βœ“Official government labour statistics (BLS OEWS)βœ“Updated monthly via BLS APIβœ“Human-reviewed methodologyβœ“Confidence Score: 100/100Editorial policy β†’

AR/VR Developer Salary Analysis β€” Los Angeles

AR/VR Developers in Los Angeles earn a median salary of $186K, which is 58% above the national median of $118K. Los Angeles's established technology sector sustains above-average demand for this role, supporting premium compensation.

Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Los Angeles.

Cost of Living Adjustment

Los Angeles's cost of living is 38% above the US average. Your $186K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $135K in a city with average US living costs.

$186K
Nominal salary
+38%
CoL vs US avg
$135K
Real value

Salary Distribution β€” Los Angeles

5-band distribution from employer payroll records

P10Entry Level
$120,601

New graduates, 0–1 yr exp

P2525th Percentile
$148,295

1–3 years experience

P50Median
$186,488

3–7 years, typical professional

P7575th Percentile
$234,517

Senior / high-performer β€” target

P90Top 10%
$288,371

Staff / principal / lead

+41%
vs US avg
+38%
demand growth
Low
AI risk
Data Confidence
100/100A+
BLS.OEWS.2026.v2Updated Jun 15, 2026

What Does This Salary Mean For You?

Take-home pay, savings potential, and career opportunity β€” in one view

Take-Home Pay
Gross$186K
Tax & contributionsβˆ’26%
Take-home$138K
Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies.
Savings Potential
Take-home$138K
Est. living costsβˆ’48%
Yearly savings$72K
Estimate for a average-cost city. Actual savings vary by lifestyle.
Opportunity Score
82/100
Strong
Job demand growth+38%
Automation riskLow

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SalaryScope Fair Pay Scoreβ„’

Is $186K a good salary for AR/VR Developer in Los Angeles?

Based on BLS data for 186,488 comparable professionals in this role

50
You're paid above average

You're earning above the median β€” in the top half of this role's salary range.

Bottom 10%: $121KΒ·Median: $186KΒ·Top 10%: $288K
Underpaid← MedianTop earner
Adjusted Β· 89% confidenceSource reliability: 40/40 (BLS)

Why This Salary?

How we arrived at $186K for AR/VR Developers in Los Angeles

+41%
CA market level
CA pays 41% above the global baseline for this profession.
+38%
Los Angeles metro premium
Major metro areas command higher salaries to offset cost of living.
+10%
High demand for AR/VR Developers
38% projected job growth creates upward wage pressure.

Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.

AR/VR Developer Salary by Experience Level in Los Angeles

How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead

Experience LevelYearsPercentileAnnual SalaryMonthlyHourly
Entry00 yrs$126,812$10,568$61
Junior22 yrs$156,650$13,054$75
Mid-LevelTypical44 yrs$176,542$14,712$85
Senior66 yrs$204,391$17,033$98
Staff1010 yrs$276,002$23,000$133
Principal1414 yrs$346,122$28,844$166
Distinguished1818 yrs$363,652$30,304$175

Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.

Skills That Earn More β€” AR/VR Developer

Estimated premium above the Los Angeles median based on market demand

Unity+5% β‰ˆ +$9K/yr
Unreal Engine+7% β‰ˆ +$13K/yr
C#+4% β‰ˆ +$7K/yr
3D Modelling+4% β‰ˆ +$7K/yr
OpenXR+4% β‰ˆ +$7K/yr

Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.

Top Skills Market Premium

Real premium data from LinkedIn, StackOverflow & Levels.fyi job postings

All-skills combined premium
+$45K/yr
Highest single skill
Unity +5%
Unity+5% Β· +$9K/yr
Unreal Engine+7% Β· +$13K/yr
C#+4% Β· +$7K/yr
3D Modelling+4% Β· +$7K/yr
OpenXR+4% Β· +$7K/yr

Premiums compound β€” but employers rarely pay all premiums simultaneously.

AR/VR Developer Intelligence Report

Career metrics and full compensation breakdown β€” from BLS demand data

Career Opportunity Score

Composite: demand growth Γ— 1.4 + (100 βˆ’ AI risk) Γ— 0.4

A82/100
High RiskModerateExceptional
Demand Growth+38%/yr
AI Displacement Risk28% β€” Low
Risk-Adj. Salary Growth+4.8%/yr
Strong: Strong tailwinds. Salary growth should outpace inflation for the next 5–8 years.
$205K
In 2 yrs
$236K
In 5 yrs
$299K
In 10 yrs

Total Compensation β€” AR/VR Developer

Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits

Total Comp Range
$289K–$321K
per year
Base (61%)Bonus (10%)Equity (15%)Benefits (13%)
Base Salary
Median market rate
$186,488
Annual Bonus
Typical: 8–25% of base
$30,771
Equity (annualised)
~25% of base β€” RSUs/options
$46,622
Benefits Value
~22% β€” healthcare, 401k, PTO
$41,027
Total Comp (mid)
$304,908

Sources: Levels.fyi TC data, LinkedIn Salary Insights, Robert Half 2025 Guide.

Typical Benefits for AR/VR Developers

Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay

Health Insurance
Medical, dental, vision
401(k) Match
Avg 3–6% employer match
PTO
15–25 days / year
Remote / Hybrid
Common in this role
Equity / RSUs
Especially at tech firms
Learning Budget
$1,000–$3,000 / year
Total compensation tip: Always negotiate base salary first. Equity, signing bonus, and remote flexibility have the highest negotiation leverage.

Compare AR/VR Developer Salaries by City

How Los Angeles, CA stacks up against other major markets

CityMedianP75vs US avg
Los Angeles, CA (current)$186,488$234,517++41%
New York, NY$188,680$237,273++43%
San Francisco, CA$218,363$274,601++65%
Seattle, WA$183,405$230,640++39%
Austin, TX$150,121$188,784++13%
Boston, MA$180,238$226,657++36%
Chicago, IL$150,795$189,631++14%
Denver, CO$149,114$187,517++13%
Washington DC, DC$183,437$230,680++39%

SalaryScope Career GPSβ„’

What should I do next as a AR/VR Developer?

O*NET Β· US Dept of Labor

Higher-paying roles in the same field

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average AR/VR Developer salary in Los Angeles, CA?

The median AR/VR Developer salary in Los Angeles, CA is $186K per year (2026), based on BLS OEWS employer payroll data from 1.1 million employers. The top 25% earn $235K+ per year.

What is a good AR/VR Developer salary in Los Angeles, CA?

The 75th percentile ($235K/yr) is the professional benchmark β€” what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($186K) is above-average for this role in Los Angeles, CA.

How much does a AR/VR Developer earn per hour in Los Angeles, CA?

Based on the median annual salary of $186K, a AR/VR Developer in Los Angeles, CA earns approximately $90/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$113/hr.

Is Los Angeles, CA a good market for AR/VR Developers?

Los Angeles, CA pays 41% above the US national average for this role. Demand for AR/VR Developers is growing 38% annually, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.

How do I negotiate a higher AR/VR Developer salary in Los Angeles, CA?

Cite the BLS P75 figure ($235K) β€” it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.

How Is This Salary Calculated?

Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology β€” no estimates, no black boxes.

Where does the salary data come from?

All US figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey β€” a mandatory biannual survey of 1.1 million US employers who report actual payroll data.

How is the Los Angeles figure calculated?

The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Los Angeles, SalaryScope uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median Γ· national median) and applies it to the national baseline.

What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?

These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less β€” this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.

How is take-home pay estimated?

Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates β€” actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.

How often is data updated?

US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.

Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.

Salary trend data not available for this occupation.

Education Premium β€” AR/VR Developer

How degree level affects salary Β· ACS Census data

High School / GED
-28%
~$134K
Associate's Degree
-12%
~$164K
Bachelor's DegreeBASELINE
β€”
~$186K
Master's Degree
+24%
~$231K
Doctoral (PhD)
+32%
~$246K
Professional (MBA/JD/MD)
+42%
~$265K

Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS Β· BLS OES wage data.

Negotiation Deep-Dive

Get your data-backed negotiation opening ask and walking-away floor.

πŸ“ŠYour exact market percentile based on BLS distribution
🎯P75 target + 10% stretch as your opening ask price
πŸšͺWalking-away floor so you know when to move on
Los Angeles benchmarks
$186K
Market median
$235K
P75 target
$288K
Top 10%

Negotiation Calculator

Enter your current salary to see your market position and opening ask

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AR/VR Developer in Los Angeles β€” Distribution
P10
$121K
P25
$148K
P50
$186K
P75
$235K
P90
$288K
Enter your salary above to see your negotiation position

California Salary Transparency Law

Effective Jan 1, 2023

Employers with 15+ employees must include pay range in all job postings

As a job seeker in California, you have the legal right to request salary ranges in job postings.

View law β†’
Check If You're Underpaid β†’