California Income Statistics
California Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
California Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in California
- Marin County (132% of U.S. avg)
- San Francisco County (129% of U.S. avg)
- San Mateo County (128% of U.S. avg)
- Lassen County (71% of U.S. avg)
- Imperial County (72% of U.S. avg)
- Del Norte County (77% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | California | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in California is about 23% higher than in US. Income has been growing faster in California (5.6%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 18% of adults in California earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in California grew by 63.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $99,161 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in California
| Metric | California | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 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 California, it is 0.572, higher than US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 14% more than women's income in California. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $318,535 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in California has narrowed from about 16% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 17% in 2010, and was narrowest at 12% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $977 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | California | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,325,007 people are unemployed in California.
The average commute time in California is 23 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in California has fallen from 10.0% to 6.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 6.0% in 2019.
California Wealth Compared With Nearby States
California is the largest of the 6 states compared here, 39,245,658 residents against a local median of 3,390,702. Where California breaks from the states next to it is unemployment, sitting 30% above the local median of 5.1% at 6.6%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $99,161 against a local median of $80,381, 23% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: median household income runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so California is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The states themselves spread 3.4% on unemployment, so California sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. California has the 5th lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 39,245,658 | $99,161 #1/6 | 5.6%/yr #4/6 | 6.6% #5/6 | 0.572 #6/6 |
| Nevada | 3,183,702 | $78,637 | 4.9%/yr | 6.9% | 0.546 |
| Oregon | 4,252,306 | $83,617 | 5.7%/yr | 5.3% | 0.538 |
| Utah | 3,390,702 | $95,466 | 5.4%/yr | 3.5% | 0.551 |
| Arizona | 7,356,359 | $80,381 | 5.7%/yr | 5.1% | 0.548 |
| Idaho | 1,929,983 | $78,141 | 6.0%/yr | 3.7% | 0.542 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, California has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in California.
How Rich Is California?
California 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 $99,161, about 23% higher than the US average of $80,455.
How has median household income changed in California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in California rose 64%, from $60,520 to $99,161. Over the same years, income here outpaced the U.S. as a whole: +64% against +57%.
What was the median household income in California in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in California was $96,718, up 5% from $92,482 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in California in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in California was $79,116. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $99,161.
Is unemployment high in California?
Unemployment in California is 6.6%, well above the US rate of 5.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in California?
The Gini coefficient in California 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 California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in California has narrowed from about 16% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 17% in 2010, and was narrowest at 12% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $977 since 2009.
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