Pasadena, California Income Statistics
Pasadena 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.
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B
Pasadena Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Pasadena | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $104,894 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $80,497 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 24.3% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 23.4% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Pasadena is about 6% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in Pasadena (4.8%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 24% of adults in Pasadena 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 Pasadena, California grew by 70.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $104,894 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Pasadena
| Metric | Pasadena | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.544 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $87,842 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $83,636 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 4.8% | 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 Pasadena, it is 0.544, 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 5% more than women's income in Pasadena, California. Over a 35-year career, a 5% wage gap accumulates to roughly $147,210 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pasadena, California has narrowed from about 13% to 5% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,716 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Pasadena | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 27.3% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 4,490 people are unemployed in Pasadena, California.
The average commute time in Pasadena is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Pasadena, California has fallen from 8.5% to 5.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2019.
Pasadena, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Pasadena, CA compares with the 2 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena, CA | 138,535 | $104,894 #3/3 | 4.8%/yr #3/3 | 5.7% #2/3 | 0.544 #3/3 |
| Altadena, CA | 39,664 | $130,436 | 5.1%/yr | 6.3% | 0.544 |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,044 | $129,244 | 5.3%/yr | 5.1% | 0.501 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Pasadena, 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 Pasadena, California.
How Rich Is Pasadena, California?
Pasadena 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 $104,894, about 6% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in Pasadena, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Pasadena, California rose 70%, from $61,614 to $104,894. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +70% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Pasadena in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Pasadena, California was $104,320, up 7% from $97,441 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Pasadena in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Pasadena, California was $85,673. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $104,894.
How many people earn six figures in Pasadena, California?
Yes. 24% of adults in Pasadena, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 23% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
What is the Gini coefficient in Pasadena, California?
The Gini coefficient in Pasadena is 0.544. 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 Pasadena, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pasadena, California has narrowed from about 13% to 5% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,716 since 2009.
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