California Wages Up 2.7% in Q1 2026, Among Smallest Raises in the US

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 25, 2026

California's average weekly wage reached $1,986 in Q1 2026 — sixth-highest nationally and 20% above the $1,654 national average — but wage growth of just 2.7% ranked eighth from the bottom and matched inflation, leaving real pay flat. Meanwhile, the state added 163,900 jobs over the prior year, outpacing every other state and the nation as a whole, which gained only 154,800 jobs. Staffing firms operating in California will note a tight dynamic: robust job creation alongside below-average wage growth and a national backdrop where 32 states shed jobs. This data, drawn from employer unemployment insurance filings, is considered more reliable than monthly survey-based reports.