San Jose, California Income Statistics
San Jose 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
San Jose Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | San Jose | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $145,417 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $89,990 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.3% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 25.6% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 35.7% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in San Jose is about 47% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in San Jose (6.3%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 26% of adults in San Jose 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 San Jose, California grew by 87.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $145,417 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in San Jose
| Metric | San Jose | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.553 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $102,696 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $81,856 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.3% | 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 San Jose, it is 0.553, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in San Jose, California. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $729,400 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Jose, California has widened from about 18% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2021, and was narrowest at 16% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,438 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in San Jose widened by 2.5 points while California's narrowed by 4.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | San Jose | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 20.3% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 26,657 people are unemployed in San Jose, California.
The average commute time in San Jose is 23 minutes, about the same as in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in San Jose, California has fallen from 9.6% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.6% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, San Jose, 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 San Jose, California.
How Rich Is San Jose, California?
San Jose 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 $145,417, about 47% higher than the California average of $99,161.
Are incomes growing in San Jose, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in San Jose, California rose 87%, from $77,727 to $145,417. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +87% against +64%.
What was the median household income in San Jose in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in San Jose, California was $139,774, up 4% from $134,795 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in San Jose in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in San Jose, California was $116,890. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $145,417.
Do many residents of San Jose, California earn over $100,000?
Yes. 26% of adults in San Jose, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 36% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
How strong is the job market in San Jose, California?
Unemployment in San Jose, 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 San Jose, California?
The Gini coefficient in San Jose is 0.553. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in San Jose, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Jose, California has widened from about 18% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2021, and was narrowest at 16% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,438 since 2009.
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