San Marcos, California Income Statistics
San Marcos 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 Marcos Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | San Marcos | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $108,916 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $68,563 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 7.6% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 19.3% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 23.9% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in San Marcos is about 10% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in San Marcos (7.6%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 19% of adults in San Marcos 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 Marcos, California grew by 77.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $108,916 in 2024. That's an average of about 7.6% per year.
San Marcos has been above the U.S. median household income in most years since 2009, but dipped below it in 2012-2013 (as much as 1.6% lower). In 2024 its income was 35% higher.
Income Distribution in San Marcos
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 15,794 households (53.4% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 15.9% of households in San Marcos had an income under $35,000 and 35.3% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., San Marcos has a larger share of households earning $200,000 or more (23.9% vs 13.2%) and a smaller share earning $35,000 to $49,999 (6.3% vs 10.1%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 1,526 | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 480 | 1.6% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,151 | 3.9% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 1,557 | 5.3% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 1,850 | 6.3% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 3,887 | 13.1% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 3,322 | 11.2% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 5,361 | 18.1% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 3,362 | 11.4% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 7,071 | 23.9% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 29,568 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 13,831 residents (19.3% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 22.8% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 15.4% of San Marcos residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 25.7% had some income but less than $25,000, and 26.8% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., San Marcos has a larger share of residents earning $100,000 or more (19.3% vs 13.9%) and a smaller share earning $50,000 to $74,999 (11.7% vs 14.3%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 10,986 | 15.4% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 8,140 | 11.4% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 4,219 | 5.9% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 6,040 | 8.4% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 6,601 | 9.2% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 7,989 | 11.2% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 8,362 | 11.7% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 5,374 | 7.5% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 13,831 | 19.3% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 71,542 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 15.4% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in San Marcos
| Metric | San Marcos | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.572 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $81,205 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $68,991 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.0% | 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 San Marcos, it is 0.572, 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 18% more than women's income in San Marcos, California. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $427,490 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 Marcos, California has narrowed from about 24% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2011, and was narrowest at 8% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | San Marcos | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.3% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 2,204 people are unemployed in San Marcos, California.
The average commute time in San Marcos is 23 minutes, about the same as in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in San Marcos, California has fallen from 7.9% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.4% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.9% in 2019.
San Marcos has stayed below the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024 and has never risen above it. It came closest in 2024, at 0.5 points lower. The gap has held fairly steady over the period.
San Marcos, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How San Marcos, CA compares with the 1 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos, CA | 89,459 | $108,916 #1/2 | 7.6%/yr #1/2 | 4.8% #1/2 | 0.572 #2/2 |
| Vista, CA | 92,368 | $93,080 | 6.8%/yr | 6.8% | 0.549 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, San Marcos, 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 Marcos, California.
How Rich Is San Marcos, California?
San Marcos 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 $108,916, about 10% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in San Marcos, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in San Marcos, California rose 78%, from $61,290 to $108,916. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +78% against +64%.
What was the median household income in San Marcos in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in San Marcos, California was $104,567, up 7% from $98,040 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in San Marcos in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in San Marcos, California was $86,133. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $108,916.
How strong is the job market in San Marcos, California?
Unemployment in San Marcos, 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 San Marcos, California?
The Gini coefficient in San Marcos is 0.572. 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 San Marcos, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Marcos, California has narrowed from about 24% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2011, and was narrowest at 8% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5 since 2009.
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