Making it to California's elite income bracket requires deeper pockets than almost anywhere else in America, according to recent data analysis by GOBankingRates.
To join the Golden State's top 1% of earners, you need an annual income of $1,072,300 - that's about $89,358 per month. This places California among just five states where the threshold exceeds $1 million, alongside Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, and New Jersey.
For perspective, the average U.S. household earns $80,610 annually, making California's top-tier requirement more than 13 times higher than the national average.
The landscape of wealth in California stands in stark contrast to states like West Virginia, where reaching the top 1% requires $435,300 yearly - less than half of California's threshold.
These numbers have shifted over time. A 2023 analysis by SmartAsset showed California's top 1% entry point at $805,519, indicating a substantial increase in the income requirement over the past year.
While reaching California's top 1% might seem daunting, the threshold for the top 10% nationwide is more attainable at $148,812 annually. This aligns closer to the U.S. median household wealth of $176,500.
The data reveals California's position as one of America's most economically competitive states, where high-income earners must clear an exceptionally high bar to rank among the state's wealthiest residents.