What it takes to be in California's top 1%
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Californians need to make $1.05 million to be in the top 1% of households across the state.
Context: That's about $200,000 more than it took last year, and more than 10 times the median income statewide and in San Diego.
The big picture: A nearly $800,000 yearly salary will put you among the nation's top earners but the bar varies considerably by state.
By the numbers: Washington, D.C., has the highest threshold for one-percenters, at about $1.22 million.
- Connecticut ($1.17 million), Massachusetts ($1.13 million) and California ($1.05 million) follow.
The other side: West Virginians need to make about $426,000 to be in their state's 1%.
How it works: These figures are based on adjusted gross income (AGI) reported on tax filings in the 2021 tax year, adjusted to 2024 dollars.
- Close to 178,000 California returns met the 1% threshold.
Between the lines: The variance among states is tied in part to local economic factors, like high-paying job opportunities and wealth concentration.
- West Virginia's floor may be low, for example — but the total AGI per tax return there was about $60,300 in 2021, compared with $112,500 for California.