Salinas, California Income Statistics
Salinas 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.
-
D
Salinas Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Salinas | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $89,763 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,918 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 7.2% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.7% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.2% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Salinas is about 9% lower than in California. Income has been growing faster in Salinas (7.2%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Salinas 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 Salinas, California grew by 79.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $89,763 in 2024. That's an average of about 7.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Salinas
| Metric | Salinas | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.569 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,017 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,923 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.3% | 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 Salinas, it is 0.569, about the same as California's 0.572, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Salinas, California. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $213,290 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Salinas, California has widened from about 10% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 13% in 2012, and was narrowest at 9% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,449 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Salinas widened by 1.7 points while California's narrowed by 4.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Salinas | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.2% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 3,086 people are unemployed in Salinas, California.
The average commute time in Salinas is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Salinas, California has fallen from 11.3% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.8% in 2012.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Salinas, California has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than California, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Salinas, California.
How Rich Is Salinas, California?
Salinas has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $89,763, about 9% lower than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in Salinas, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Salinas, California rose 80%, from $49,947 to $89,763. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +80% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Salinas in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Salinas, California was $87,643, up 6% from $82,978 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Salinas in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Salinas, California was $68,337. By 2024 it had risen 31% to $89,763.
How strong is the job market in Salinas, California?
Unemployment in Salinas, California is only 4.7%, 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 Salinas, California?
The Gini coefficient in Salinas is 0.569. 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 Salinas, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Salinas, California has widened from about 10% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 13% in 2012, and was narrowest at 9% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,449 since 2009.
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