Highest-earning Counties in California

Craig Howell // Wikimedia Commons

Highest-earning counties in California

The 2019 median household income in the U.S. was $68,703, up 6.8% from 2018. COVID-19 in 2020 drastically altered income and poverty levels, along with consumer habits and job opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-earning counties in California using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by 2019 5-year estimate median household income. Keep reading to discover which counties in your state rake in the most cash.

Data shows that annual income depends heavily on an individual’s educational attainment, race, ethnicity, gender, and even location. One cluster of the United States is particularly well off: The five counties with the highest median household income in the country can all be found in the Washington D.C. metropolitan areas of Maryland and Northern Virginia. These counties can likely attribute their wealth to their proximity to Washington D.C., which attracts highly educated and skilled people in areas of law and public policy. And people in those fields often marry each other, making two high-earning households one very high-earning household.

Keep reading to learn more about the highest-earning counties in California.

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EPoelzl // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Mariposa County

- Median household income: $48,820
--- 35.1% below state median, 22.3% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 17.4%
--- #1,883 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.1%
--- #1,442 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Trance addict // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Glenn County

- Median household income: $49,633
--- 34.0% below state median, 21.0% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 18.6%
--- #1,645 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.5%
--- #709 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#48. Tulare County

- Median household income: $49,687
--- 34.0% below state median, 20.9% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 20.9%
--- #1,263 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.8%
--- #1,244 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Binksternet // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Mendocino County

- Median household income: $51,416
--- 31.7% below state median, 18.2% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 21.1%
--- #1,225 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.8%
--- #1,244 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#46. Sierra County

- Median household income: $52,148
--- 30.7% below state median, 17.0% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 25.8%
--- #672 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.4%
--- #1,112 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#45. Butte County

- Median household income: $52,537
--- 30.2% below state median, 16.4% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 23.6%
--- #873 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.6%
--- #1,064 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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nickchapman // Wikicommons

#44. Kern County

- Median household income: $53,350
--- 29.1% below state median, 15.1% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 23.8%
--- #862 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.0%
--- #1,462 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Mark Miller // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Merced County

- Median household income: $53,672
--- 28.7% below state median, 14.6% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 21.6%
--- #1,148 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.0%
--- #1,462 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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David Jordan // Wikicommons

#42. Fresno County

- Median household income: $53,969
--- 28.3% below state median, 14.1% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 24.0%
--- #829 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.7%
--- #1,264 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Doug Kerr // Wikicommons

#41. Shasta County

- Median household income: $54,667
--- 27.3% below state median, 13.0% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 22.9%
--- #973 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.3%
--- #1,369 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Kenneth Green // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Plumas County

- Median household income: $55,359
--- 26.4% below state median, 11.9% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 23.5%
--- #887 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.7%
--- #1,264 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Lassen County

- Median household income: $56,352
--- 25.1% below state median, 10.3% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 23.9%
--- #846 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #2,291 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Chuck Abbe // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Inyo County

- Median household income: $57,316
--- 23.8% below state median, 8.8% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 22.2%
--- #1,074 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.4%
--- #2,498 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Public Domain

#37. Madera County

- Median household income: $57,585
--- 23.5% below state median, 8.4% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 24.4%
--- #802 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.8%
--- #1,811 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Armona // Wikicommons

#36. Kings County

- Median household income: $57,848
--- 23.1% below state median, 7.9% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 22.6%
--- #1,017 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #2,126 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Yuba County

- Median household income: $58,054
--- 22.8% below state median, 7.6% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 26.2%
--- #645 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.2%
--- #1,672 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Ray Bouknight // Wikicommons

#34. Sutter County

- Median household income: $59,050
--- 21.5% below state median, 6.0% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 26.8%
--- #597 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #2,126 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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CleanWater17 // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Colusa County

- Median household income: $59,401
--- 21.0% below state median, 5.5% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 21.9%
--- #1,115 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.6%
--- #2,167 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Tuolumne County

- Median household income: $60,108
--- 20.1% below state median, 4.4% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 27.2%
--- #568 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.1%
--- #1,442 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Public Domain

#31. Stanislaus County

- Median household income: $60,704
--- 19.3% below state median, 3.4% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 27.0%
--- #585 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #2,291 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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clr_flickr from Rocklin, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Mono County

- Median household income: $62,260
--- 17.2% below state median, 0.9% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 22.0%
--- #1,097 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.1%
--- #2,771 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Amador County

- Median household income: $62,772
--- 16.6% below state median, 0.1% below national median
- Households earning over $100k: 26.6%
--- #621 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.6%
--- #2,439 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#28. Calaveras County

- Median household income: $63,158
--- 16.1% below state median, 0.5% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 27.4%
--- #554 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.9%
--- #2,803 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#27. San Bernardino County

- Median household income: $63,362
--- 15.8% below state median, 0.8% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 28.5%
--- #482 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.6%
--- #2,175 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Susan Popielaski // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Alpine County

- Median household income: $63,750
--- 15.3% below state median, 1.4% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 35.7%
--- #229 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.5%
--- #2,455 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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LPS.1 // Wikicommons

#25. San Joaquin County

- Median household income: $64,432
--- 14.4% below state median, 2.5% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 30.4%
--- #393 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.3%
--- #2,263 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Frank Schulenburg // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Nevada County

- Median household income: $66,096
--- 12.1% below state median, 5.2% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 31.8%
--- #340 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.3%
--- #2,263 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Daniel Orth // Flickr

#23. Riverside County

- Median household income: $67,005
--- 10.9% below state median, 6.6% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 31.9%
--- #338 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.3%
--- #2,263 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#22. Sacramento County

- Median household income: $67,151
--- 10.7% below state median, 6.9% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 32.0%
--- #333 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #2,126 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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BDS2006 // Wikimedia

#21. Los Angeles County

- Median household income: $68,044
--- 9.6% below state median, 8.3% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 33.8%
--- #276 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.4%
--- #1,946 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Epolk // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Yolo County

- Median household income: $70,228
--- 6.7% below state median, 11.8% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 34.8%
--- #249 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #1,487 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Naotake Murayama // Wikicommons

#19. Monterey County

- Median household income: $71,015
--- 5.6% below state median, 13.0% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 33.1%
--- #291 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.5%
--- #2,883 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Basar // Wikicommons

#18. San Luis Obispo County

- Median household income: $73,518
--- 2.3% below state median, 17.0% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 35.8%
--- #226 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.8%
--- #2,374 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Pixabay

#17. Santa Barbara County

- Median household income: $74,624
--- 0.8% below state median, 18.7% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 37.2%
--- #198 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.1%
--- #2,551 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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SD Dirk // Flickr

#16. San Diego County

- Median household income: $78,980
--- 5.0% above state median, 25.7% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 39.1%
--- #166 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.6%
--- #2,677 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Matt314 // Wikicommons

#15. Sonoma County

- Median household income: $81,018
--- 7.7% above state median, 28.9% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 39.6%
--- #150 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.7%
--- #2,862 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#14. Solano County

- Median household income: $81,472
--- 8.3% above state median, 29.6% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 39.3%
--- #161 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.9%
--- #2,803 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Aaronbrick // Wikicommons

#13. Santa Cruz County

- Median household income: $82,234
--- 9.3% above state median, 30.9% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 41.9%
--- #110 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.7%
--- #2,395 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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DimiTalen // Wikimedia Commons

#12. El Dorado County

- Median household income: $83,377
--- 10.8% above state median, 32.7% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 41.9%
--- #110 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.4%
--- #2,717 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Michael Patrick // Wikimedia Commons

#11. San Benito County

- Median household income: $86,958
--- 15.6% above state median, 38.4% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 43.7%
--- #86 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 4.3%
--- #3,098 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#10. Ventura County

- Median household income: $88,131
--- 17.1% above state median, 40.2% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 43.9%
--- #83 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 5.7%
--- #2,978 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Stan Shebs // Wikicommons

#9. Napa County

- Median household income: $88,596
--- 17.8% above state median, 41.0% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 44.5%
--- #77 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.3%
--- #2,909 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Doug Olson // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Placer County

- Median household income: $89,691
--- 19.2% above state median, 42.7% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 44.9%
--- #73 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.8%
--- #2,828 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Hollywood // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Orange County

- Median household income: $90,234
--- 19.9% above state median, 43.6% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 45.2%
--- #68 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.9%
--- #2,803 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Jennifer Williams // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Alameda County

- Median household income: $99,406
--- 32.1% above state median, 58.2% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 49.8%
--- #40 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.6%
--- #2,677 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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MARELBU // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Contra Costa County

- Median household income: $99,716
--- 32.5% above state median, 58.7% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 49.8%
--- #40 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.2%
--- #2,931 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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#4. San Francisco County

- Median household income: $112,449
--- 49.5% above state median, 78.9% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 54.5%
--- #19 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #2,126 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Kglavin // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Marin County

- Median household income: $115,246
--- 53.2% above state median, 83.4% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 55.7%
--- #15 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 5.7%
--- #2,978 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Craig Howell // Wikimedia Commons

#2. San Mateo County

- Median household income: $122,641
--- 63.0% above state median, 95.2% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 58.6%
--- #8 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 4.9%
--- #3,043 highest rate among all counties nationwide

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Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock

#1. Santa Clara County

- Median household income: $124,055
--- 64.9% above state median, 97.4% above national median
- Households earning over $100k: 58.8%
--- #7 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 5.5%
--- #2,995 highest rate among all counties nationwide