What is the income of a household in ?

Updated Apr. 3, 2026Refreshed annually
The median household income in Kern County, CA was $70,200 in 2020–2024. Household income is the total money received in a year — wages, pensions, investments, public assistance, and more — by everyone in a household over 15.

$70.2K

Median household income (2020-2024)

29.2%

lower than California (2020-2024)

Median incomes vary by geography due to a range of factors:

  • differences in cost of living
  • local job markets
  • economic opportunities, such as the presence of high-paying industries or declining sectors
  • regional policies, such as minimum wage
  • access to education
  • variations in economic development
Median household income in Kern County, CA was $70,200 from 2020–2024. This was 29.2% lower than in the state of California, and 13.0% lower than in the US.

From 2020–2024, median household income in Kern County, CA was 29.2% lower than in California as a whole, at $70,200.

Median household income by geographic area in 2020–2024, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars)

Ask the data
Beta

We use AI to summarize the data, charts, and analysis we have on USAFacts

What is the income distribution in Kern County, CA? How does this compare to California as a whole?

The median household income is a useful summary, but it doesn’t fully capture the income landscape. Examining the income distribution provides insight into economic diversity and reveals patterns in income concentrations across different brackets. This perspective helps to better understand the range of and disparities in household earnings.
From 2020–2024, half of households in Kern County, CA made more than $70,200 and the other half made less. Compared to California as a whole, Kern County had more households in the less than $50,000 income range and fewer in the $200,000 or more range.

From 2020-2024, half of households in Kern County, CA made over $70,200 and the other half made less.

Share of households in each income group in Kern County, CA (2020–2024)

How does income vary by household type?

Household income can differ depending on the makeup of the household.
Married couple households (with and without kids) had a higher median income than other types of familial households in 2020–2024. Among nonfamily households, males not living alone had a higher median income than females not living alone.

From 2020-2024, married-couple households had the highest median income.

Median income by household type in Kern County, CA in 2020-2024, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars)

How does the median income in Kern County, CA compare to other counties?

Lastly, household income also varies by geography due to differences in cost of living, local job markets, and economic opportunities (e.g. the presence of high-paying industries or declining sectors). Regional policies (like minimum wage), access to education, and other economic factors can also play a role in shaping local income levels.
When ranked highest to lowest, Kern County was ranked 42 in median household income among counties in California from 2020–2024. Counties with a similar median income include Kings County (41) and Mariposa County (43).

From 2020-2024, Kern County, CA ranked 42nd in median household income among counties in California.

Median household income by county (2020–2024), adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars)

Median household income, by county in California (2020–2024)

Median household income, by county in California (2020–2024)
1.

Santa Clara County, CA

$164,300
2.

San Mateo County, CA

$158,900
3.

Marin County, CA

$149,100
4.

San Francisco County, CA

$141,000
5.

Alameda County, CA

$129,400
6.

Contra Costa County, CA

$127,200
7.

Orange County, CA

$116,300
8.

Placer County, CA

$116,000
9.

San Benito County, CA

$114,400
10.

Napa County, CA

$111,500

Keep exploring

Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.