Inequality
What does economic inequality look like in San Joaquin County?
1.90:1
Workers in the 75th percentile earned 1.90 times as much per hour as those in the 25th percentile in May 2025, reflecting significant wage disparities, albeit less than the 2.35:1 ratio in California and 2.14:1 ratio in the US as a whole.
0.43
The Gini Index for San Joaquin County is 0.43 in 2024, indicating moderate income inequality, lower than California (0.49) and the United States (0.48).
17.4%
Approximately 17.4% of children under 18 in San Joaquin County lived below the poverty line in 2024, a higher rate than residents aged 18-64 (11.0%) and 65 and over (12.3%).
Inequality
Ratio of Hourly Wages at the 75th and 25th Percentiles
The ratio of hourly wages at the 75th and 25th percentiles provides insight into wage inequality within the workforce. A higher ratio indicates a greater gap between higher and lower earners. In May 2025, the 75th-percentile hourly wage in the Stockton–Lodi metropolitan area was $36.09, compared with $18.99 at the 25th percentile, a ratio of 1.90 to 1. The corresponding ratios were 2.35 to 1 in California and 2.14 to 1 nationally. This is an hourly-wage ratio in the OEWS employment universe, not a household-income ratio.
1.93:1
Workers in the 75th percentile earned 1.90 times as much per hour as those in the 25th percentile in May 2025, highlighting ongoing wage inequality though still below the 2.35:1 ratio in California and the 2.14:1 ratio nationwide.
Gini Index of Income Inequality
The Gini Index measures income inequality on a scale of 0 to 1, with higher values reflecting greater inequality. San Joaquin County’s Gini Index of 0.43 in 2024 reveals a moderate level of inequality, mostly consistent with broader regional trends.
0.43
The Gini Index for San Joaquin County is 0.43 in 2024, indicating moderate income inequality, lower than California (0.49) and the United States (0.48).
Percent Below Poverty by Age Groups in San Joaquin County (2010–2023)
Examining poverty rates across age groups highlights some of the demographic challenges of economic inequality. In San Joaquin County, 17.4% of children under 18, 11.0% of adults aged 18–64, and 12.3% of seniors lived below the poverty line in 2024, indicating targeted needs for intervention.
17.4%
Approximately 17.4% of children under 18 in San Joaquin County lived below the poverty line in 2024, a higher rate than residents aged 18-64 (11.0%) and 65 and over (12.3%).
Ratio of Income to Poverty Level by Family in San Joaquin County (2023)
The income-to-poverty ratio provides a detailed view of family economic stability by comparing household income to the federal poverty threshold. Families with a ratio under 1.30 are classified as living in or near poverty, highlighting those struggling the most. In 2023, 26,639 families in San Joaquin County fell into this category (about 14% of families), reflecting the challenges faced by economically vulnerable households in the county compared to lower percentages of families in California (about 12% of families) and the US (about 12.5% of families) as a whole. This data underscores the persistent disparities in financial security for families in the county compared to California and the United States as a whole.
~45%
of San Joaquin County families classified as living in or near poverty in 2023 (under 1.3 ratio) were led by female householders, much higher than their proportion in the population.
Median Income by Race in San Joaquin County (2023)
Significant income disparities exist across racial and ethnic groups in San Joaquin County. In 2023, Asian households reported the highest median income at $100,800, while Black/African American households reported the lowest at $65,200 – a difference of $35,600 (54.6%). White households earned a median income of $91,100, followed by American Indian & Alaska Native households at $76,600, and Hispanic/Latino households at $73,600. These disparities largely mirror patterns seen nationally, reflecting persistent economic inequalities across racial and ethnic groups.
$35,600
The gap between the highest median income (Asian households at $100,800) and lowest median income (Black/African American households at $65,200) in San Joaquin County.
Median Household Income by Age of Householder in San Joaquin County (2024)
Householder income varies significantly by age group. In 2024, younger San Joaquin householders under 25 posted a median income of $62,600, while those aged 45 to 64 earned $109,163 (about 74% more), illustrating economic growth with age and experience. However, San Joaquin householders 65 and over posted an income of $66,139 in 2024, which is about 39% lower than the income of those aged 45 to 64 and about 6% higher than those aged 25 and under. In 2024, only those aged 25 to 64 earned more than the countywide median in San Joaquin County, similar to the pattern in California and the US overall. Each of San Joaquin County’s age groups posted a median income above the corresponding median income in the US as a whole, and all except householders under 25 posted incomes below the corresponding California median.
$109,163
median income for householders aged 45–64 in San Joaquin County, which is higher than the median income of all other age groups, similar to the pattern in California and the US as a whole.
Occupation by Sex and Median Earnings in San Joaquin County (2023)
Median earnings by occupation and sex reveal gender-based disparities in the workforce. In 2023, for example, men received more pay than women across most occupations. While San Joaquin County males posted median earnings of $52,199 in 2023, females posted median earnings of $40,934 (nearly 22% less (about $11,265 less) than males). In 2023, females earned just about 48% of the earnings of males in sales and related occupations, the lowest percentage among listed occupations. Still, females earned over 171% of the earnings of males in health technologists and technicians occupations, as well as over 170% in personal care and service occupations, in 2023—the highest percentages among listed occupations.
78.4%
Civilian employed San Joaquin County females 16 and over earned 78.4% of the median earnings of San Joaquin County males in 2023, which reflects about the same level of inequality as experienced across California (77.2%) and greater inequality than in the US (80%) overall.
Median Earnings by Education Level and Sex in San Joaquin County (2024)
Educational attainment significantly impacts earning potential, with a clear correlation between higher education levels and increased median earnings. However, a persistent gender wage gap exists across all education levels in San Joaquin County. The gap is particularly pronounced for those with some college or an associate’s degree, where men earn $22,820 more than women with the same education level. Even at the highest education levels, significant disparities persist – men with graduate or professional degrees earn $28,959 more than women with equivalent qualifications.
$85,488
The difference in median earnings between those with graduate degrees ($100,565) and those without a high school diploma ($33,483).