Monterey County, California Income Statistics
Monterey County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Monterey County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Monterey County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $97,252 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,124 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.2% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 16.8% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Monterey County is about 2% lower than in California. Income has been growing faster in Monterey County (6.0%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Monterey County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Monterey County, California grew by 62.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $97,252 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Monterey County
| Metric | Monterey County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.579 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,380 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,652 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.3% | 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 County, it is 0.579, higher than California's 0.572, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 10% more than women's income in Monterey County, California. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $200,480 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 County, California has narrowed from about 13% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 8% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $135 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Monterey County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.8% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 10,243 people are unemployed in Monterey County, California.
The average commute time in Monterey County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Monterey County, California has fallen from 10.5% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.7% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.8% in 2019.
Monterey County, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Monterey County, CA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 437,328 residents against a local median of 281,514. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Monterey County, CA an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 12% below the local median at $97,252 against $111,078. Monterey County, CA has the 5th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| 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 County, CA | 437,328 | $97,252 #5/6 | 6.0%/yr #2/6 | 5.0% #2/6 | 0.579 #5/6 |
| San Benito County, CA | 67,290 | $115,991 | 5.8%/yr | 5.4% | 0.536 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 264,809 | $111,078 | 6.0%/yr | 6.1% | 0.562 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 1,901,257 | $165,940 | 6.3%/yr | 4.9% | 0.536 |
| Merced County, CA | 290,118 | $66,042 | 5.1%/yr | 10.5% | 0.597 |
| San Luis Obispo County, CA | 281,514 | $97,610 | 5.3%/yr | 5.5% | 0.557 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Monterey County, California has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with California, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Monterey County, California.
How Rich Is Monterey County, California?
Monterey County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $97,252, about 2% lower than the California average of $99,161.
Are incomes growing in Monterey County, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Monterey County, California rose 63%, from $59,701 to $97,252. Over the same years, income here kept pace with California as a whole: +63% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Monterey County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Monterey County, California was $94,731, up 4% from $90,991 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Monterey County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Monterey County, California was $77,101. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $97,252.
Is unemployment high in Monterey County, California?
Unemployment in Monterey County, 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 County, California?
The Gini coefficient in Monterey County is 0.579. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Monterey County, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monterey County, California has narrowed from about 13% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 8% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $135 since 2009.
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