Monterey, California Income Statistics
Monterey Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
Monterey Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Monterey | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $102,069 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $67,903 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 21.8% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 18.1% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Monterey is about 3% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in Monterey (5.0%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 22% of adults in Monterey earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Monterey, California grew by 62.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $102,069 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Monterey has stayed well above the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024 and has never fallen below it. It came closest in 2014, at 20% higher. The gap has widened from 23% in 2009 to 27% in 2024.
Income Distribution in Monterey
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 5,728 households (50.7% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 13.6% of households in Monterey had an income under $35,000 and 33.7% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Monterey has a larger share of households earning $150,000 to $199,999 (15.6% vs 9.5%) and a smaller share earning $35,000 to $49,999 (7.6% vs 10.1%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 427 | 3.8% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 113 | 1.0% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 445 | 3.9% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 551 | 4.9% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 854 | 7.6% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 1,553 | 13.7% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,627 | 14.4% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 1,917 | 17.0% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 1,761 | 15.6% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 2,050 | 18.1% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 11,299 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 5,132 residents (21.8% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 24.0% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 9.2% of Monterey residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 23.6% had some income but less than $25,000, and 34.4% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Monterey has a larger share of residents earning $100,000 or more (21.8% vs 13.9%) and a smaller share with no personal income (9.2% vs 12.8%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 2,162 | 9.2% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 1,819 | 7.7% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,246 | 5.3% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 2,482 | 10.5% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2,392 | 10.2% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 2,334 | 9.9% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 3,004 | 12.8% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 2,979 | 12.6% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 5,132 | 21.8% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 23,550 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 9.2% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Monterey
| Metric | Monterey | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.508 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $82,828 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $63,732 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.1% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Monterey, it is 0.508, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Monterey, California. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $668,360 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monterey, California has widened from about 16% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2021, and was narrowest at 3% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,522 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Monterey widened by 6.8 points while California's narrowed by 4.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Monterey | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 23.6% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 806 people are unemployed in Monterey, California.
The average commute time in Monterey is 15 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Monterey, California has fallen from 5.3% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.6% in 2019.
Monterey has stayed well below the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024 and has never risen above it. The gap has narrowed from 3.4 points in 2011 to 0.2 points in 2024, the closest it has been.
Monterey, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Monterey, CA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey, CA | 26,676 | $102,069 #1/2 | 5.0%/yr #2/2 | 5.0% #1/2 | 0.508 #1/2 |
| Seaside, CA | 26,690 | $82,895 | 5.9%/yr | 6.4% | 0.571 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Monterey, California has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than California, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Monterey, California.
How Rich Is Monterey, California?
Monterey has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $102,069, about 3% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in Monterey, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Monterey, California rose 62%, from $62,917 to $102,069. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +62% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Monterey in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Monterey, California was $106,673, up 8% from $98,992 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Monterey in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Monterey, California was $82,394. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $102,069.
Is it hard to find a job in Monterey, California?
Unemployment in Monterey, California is only 5.0%, well below the California rate of 6.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Monterey, California?
The Gini coefficient in Monterey is 0.508. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Monterey, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monterey, California has widened from about 16% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2021, and was narrowest at 3% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,522 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →