The median household income in California is $99,122, which ranks in the top 41% nationally.
Top income thresholds in California
California ranks #6 of 51 states (and D.C.) by median household income.
States with a similar income level
This state's median household income
Pinch or drag to pan/zoom, double-tap to toggle zoom
Median income · Single households
Below, California's numbers in more depth: where its $99,122 median ranks, the income lines for the top quarter and top tenth, a by-age earnings table, and county comparisons.
California is one of the country's higher-income states. Its median household income of $99,122 ranks 6th of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) and runs 23% above the national median of $80,734. Prices for housing and everyday costs also differ by state, and these figures don't adjust for them.
The top-25% line is roughly $175,651 here and $141,925 for the US as a whole. The share of households at $200,000 or more is 21% versus 13% nationwide, 7 points higher.
The latest one-year estimate (2024) is $100,149, +1% relative to the pooled 2020–2024 median of $99,122.
In California, 21% of households have incomes of at least $200,000. By household income, the top 25% start at about $175,651, and the top 10% sit above $200,000. The table marks lines that fall above $200,000 rather than guessing their value: the Census groups everyone above that amount together, so the exact top-5% and top-1% cutoffs can't be read from this data.
Move a typical American household ($80,734 a year) to California and it would sit near the top 58% of local households.
Between the median and the top-25% line, incomes rise by a factor of 1.78 in California; nationally the step is 1.77, so the upper half here is about the same as the US.
| Line | Household income |
|---|---|
| Median (top 50%) | $98,953 |
| Top 25% | $175,651 |
| Top 10% | Above $200,000 (top bracket) |
| Top 5% | Above $200,000 (top bracket) |
| Top 1% | Above $200,000 (top bracket) |
Earnings per worker in California peak at 35–44, with a median of $62,968, compared with $47,903 for workers aged 25–34. Compared age-for-age with the nation, the gap averages +8% and is largest at 65+: $41,979 here, $34,745 nationwide. These figures are personal earnings (wages plus self-employment) from Census microdata, so they're lower than household income, which can combine several earners.
| Age | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25–34 | $47,903 | $46,177 |
| 35–44 | $62,968 | $58,657 |
| 45–54 | $62,968 | $60,915 |
| 55–64 | $59,662 | $55,860 |
| 65+ | $41,979 | $34,745 |
If you live alone, the more relevant benchmark is the $63,335 median for single and non-family households, not the $136,752 figure for married couples (2.2× higher).
County medians stretch from $53,002 in Trinity County up to $164,281 in Santa Clara County — a 3.1-fold range. The five highest-income counties are Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Marin County, San Francisco County, and Alameda County; the five lowest are Trinity County, Imperial County, Siskiyou County, Modoc County, and Lake County.
Counting counties: 30 of 58 (52%) are above the $80,734 national median, and the county in the middle of the ranking, Stanislaus County, reports $81,468.
| Highest | Median | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County | $164,281 | Trinity County | $53,002 |
| San Mateo County | $158,855 | Imperial County | $57,681 |
| Marin County | $149,091 | Siskiyou County | $59,095 |
| San Francisco County | $140,970 | Modoc County | $59,455 |
| Alameda County | $129,367 | Lake County | $60,621 |
The household medians and thresholds use the 2020–2024 ACS five-year estimates; the age table is built from 839,134 California survey records of people 25 and older with earnings.
Reference statistics only — not financial advice.
US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates (B19013, B19001)
Based on US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates — actual figures may differ from your real income/assets. Not financial advice.