Placer County, California Income Statistics
Placer 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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B
Placer County Around averageWealthier than 89% of counties in California
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Placer County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $115,988 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $88,685 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 23.4% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 24.4% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Placer County is about 17% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in Placer County (5.2%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 23% of adults in Placer County 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 Placer County, California grew by 57.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $115,988 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Placer County
| Metric | Placer County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.536 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $102,049 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $79,647 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.0% | 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 Placer County, it is 0.536, 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 28% more than women's income in Placer County, California. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $784,070 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Placer County, California has narrowed from about 27% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2011, and was narrowest at 20% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,094 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Placer County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 22.7% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 9,888 people are unemployed in Placer County, California.
The average commute time in Placer County is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Placer County, California has fallen from 8.1% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.1% in 2020.
Placer County, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Placer County, CA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 418,934 residents against a local median of 84,507. The measure that sets Placer County, CA apart most is median household income: $115,988, 33% above the local median of $86,926. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $48,357 on median household income, so Placer County, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Placer County, CA has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placer County, CA | 418,934 | $115,988 #1/6 | 5.2%/yr #5/6 | 4.8% #2/6 | 0.536 #1/6 |
| Nevada County, CA | 102,481 | $90,457 | 5.8%/yr | 5.4% | 0.543 |
| El Dorado County, CA | 192,661 | $109,313 | 5.3%/yr | 4.5% | 0.540 |
| Sierra County, CA | 2,746 | $60,956 | 4.1%/yr | 12.6% | 0.543 |
| Amador County, CA | 41,428 | $86,926 | 5.6%/yr | 5.4% | 0.566 |
| Yuba County, CA | 84,507 | $76,221 | 5.8%/yr | 6.4% | 0.554 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Placer County, 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 Placer County, California.
How Rich Is Placer County, California?
Placer County 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 $115,988, about 17% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How has median household income changed in Placer County, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Placer County, California rose 58%, from $73,465 to $115,988. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +58% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Placer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Placer County, California was $114,952, up 5% from $109,696 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Placer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Placer County, California was $93,779. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $115,988.
Do many residents of Placer County, California earn over $100,000?
Yes. 23% of adults in Placer County, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 24% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
Is unemployment high in Placer County, California?
Unemployment in Placer County, California is only 4.8%, 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 Placer County, California?
The Gini coefficient in Placer County is 0.536. 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 Placer County, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Placer County, California has narrowed from about 27% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2011, and was narrowest at 20% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,094 since 2009.
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