California’s better-paid workers received the nation’s largest wage bump above typical compensation.

In honor of the Labor Day weekend, my trusty spreadsheet delved into some curious federal statistics that track the pay ladder, so to speak, across the 50 states . The latest edition of the report tracks pay for key segments of the workforce in May 2024.

The figures reveal a key pay boost that enables many Californians to afford a costly lifestyle. Yet that same cash flow also inflates the price of many California goods and services – most notably, housing.

Let me explain, starting with the annual pay for the typical worker using the median wage. That’s the midpoint between what the top-paid workers earn and the half who earn less.

California ranked No. 9 among the states at $56,900.

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