California has one of highest average hourly pay in the nation. See federal data
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its total private average hourly earnings by state, along with the average weekly earnings and the average number of hours Americans work per week as of June 2025.
Here's the average hourly salary for California, along with its comparison to other states:
What is the average hourly pay in California?
On average, residents in the Golden State earn $41.22 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure is not seasonally adjusted.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also noted that the average worker in California works 33.2 hours per week.
California's average hourly pay is the highest among the 50 states. Only Washington, D.C., Washington and California have a higher average hourly wage.
Where do people earn the most per hour?
Employees in the nation's capital of Washington, D.C., earn the most money with an average hourly pay of $54.21 per hour.
Out of all 50 states, here are the places with the highest average hourly pay:
Washington: $42.26
Massachusetts: $42.00
California: $41.22
Colorado: $39.19
Minnesota: $39.17
New York: $39.14
Connecticut: $38.98
New Jersey: $37.87
Hawaii: $37.62
Alaska: $37.49
How does California's average hourly pay compare to other states in the west?
Washington: $42.26
Oregon: $36.83
Arizona: $34.63
Nevada: $32.01
California's unemployment rate remains stable as its economy adds jobs
The unemployment rate in California in June 2025 held steady at 5.4%, according to state statistics. The seasonally adjusted rate in May 2025 was 5.3%.
California's economy is estimated to have increased by 17,700 jobs, according to a department press release.
The national unemployment rate in June 2025 was 4.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Contributing: USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California's average hourly earnings rank among highest in US
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