Salinas, CA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Add Comparison

2022 Population

437,609

0.306% 1-year decline

US Senator

Alex Padilla

Democratic Party

US Senator

Laphonza Butler

Democratic Party

2022 Median Age

35.1

0.573% 1-year increase

2022 Poverty Rate

12.3%

1.4% 1-year increase

2022 Median Household Income

$91,043

11% 1-year growth

2022 Median Property Value

$683,700

14.6% 1-year growth

2022 Employed Population

187,502

1.21% 1-year decline

About

In 2022, Salinas, CA had a population of 438k people with a median age of 35.1 and a median household income of $91,043. Between 2021 and 2022 the population of Salinas, CA declined from 438,953 to 437,609, a −0.306% decrease and its median household income grew from $82,013 to $91,043, a 11% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Salinas, CA are Other (Hispanic) (39.6%), White (Non-Hispanic) (28.6%), White (Hispanic) (11.2%), Two+ (Hispanic) (7.96%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (5.65%).

None of the households in Salinas, CA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

79.7% of the residents in Salinas, CA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Salinas, CA are Hartnell College (2,341 degrees awarded in 2022), Naval Postgraduate School (2,226 degrees), and California State University-Monterey Bay (2,220 degrees).

In 2022, the median property value in Salinas, CA was $683,700, and the homeownership rate was 52.2%.

Most people in Salinas, CA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 25 minutes. The average car ownership in Salinas, CA was 2 cars per household.

Salinas, CA borders Fresno, CA, Hanford-Corcoran, CA, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA, and Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.

About the photo: Pfeiffer Beach Big Sur

Photo by Greg Balzer

United States California

Population & Diversity

Salinas, CA is home to a population of 438k people, from which 79.7% are citizens. As of 2022, 28.9% of Salinas, CA residents were born outside of the country (127k people).

In 2022, there were 1.38 times more Other (Hispanic) residents (173k people) in Salinas, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 125k White (Non-Hispanic) and 48.8k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

79.7%

2022 Citizenship

79.5%

2021 Citizenship

As of 2022, 79.7% of Salinas, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.5%. In 2021, the percentage of US citizens in Salinas, CA was 79.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Salinas, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Salinas, CA

Other (Hispanic)
173k ± 4.47k
White (Non-Hispanic)
125k ± 451
White (Hispanic)
48.8k ± 3.28k

59.9%

Hispanic Population

262k people

59.9% of the people in Salinas, CA are hispanic (262k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Salinas, CA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for California.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,899,021 ± 46,015 people
Philippines
824,230 ± 22,055 people
China
685,370 ± 20,148 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 3,899,021 California residents, followed by Philippines with 824,230 and China with 685,370.

Foreign-Born Population

28.9%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

127k people

29.1%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

128k people

As of 2022, 28.9% of Salinas, CA residents (127k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.6%. In 2021, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Salinas, CA was 29.1%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Salinas, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
5,297 ± 472
Gulf War (2001-)
3,215 ± 479
Gulf War (1990s)
1,998 ± 368

Salinas, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.65 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Salinas, CA employs 188k people. The largest industries in Salinas, CA are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (27,523 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (21,110 people), and Retail Trade (17,694 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($90,100), Public Administration ($82,023), and Finance & Insurance ($79,810).

Males in California have an average income that is 1.26 times higher than the average income of females, which is $75,777. The income inequality in California (measured using the Gini index) is 0.498, which is higher than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

188k

2022 Value

± 3,602

−1.21%

1 Year decline

± 2.72%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Salinas, CA declined at a rate of −1.21%, from 190k employees to 188k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Salinas, CA, are Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (19,158 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (17,711 people), and Management Occupations (17,185 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Salinas, CA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in California (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

188k

2022 Value

± 3,602

−1.21%

1 Year decline

± 2.72%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Salinas, CA declined at a rate of −1.21%, from 190k employees to 188k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Salinas, CA, are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (27,523 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (21,110 people), and Retail Trade (17,694 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Salinas, CA, though some of these residents may live in Salinas, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$46,107

Median earning men ± $804

$36,108

Median earning women ± $960

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2022 are Public Administration ($92,300), Information ($85,721), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($79,345).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2022 are Public Administration ($67,314), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($56,542), and Information ($51,354).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Y-Axis

2.57%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 17.9M people employed in California. This represents a 2.57% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in California.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

690
Construction
589
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
536
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.44M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$722k
Accommodation and Food Services
$691k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 63.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.07%).

Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler are the senators currently representing the state of California. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Salinas, CA. Showing the available data for California.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (63.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (34.3%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.07%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 63.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.07%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in California for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from California

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Alex Padilla

Senator from California

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Kamala Harris, who had become Vice President of the United States.

Laphonza Butler

Senator from California

Assumed office on October 3, 2023
Appointed to the seat following the death of Dianne Feinstein.

Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler are the senators currently representing California.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in California over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from California

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for California have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Salinas, CA awarded 8,601 degrees. The student population of Salinas, CA in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 12,190 male students and 14,412 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Salinas, CA are Hispanic or Latino (4,223 and 51.2%), followed by White (2,613 and 31.7%), Asian (454 and 5.5%), and Unknown (400 and 4.85%).

The largest universities in Salinas, CA by number of degrees awarded are Hartnell College (2,341 and 27.2%), Naval Postgraduate School (2,226 and 25.9%), and California State University-Monterey Bay (2,220 and 25.8%).

The most popular majors in Salinas, CA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,639 and 19.1%), General Business Administration & Management (657 and 7.64%), and General Psychology (408 and 4.74%).

The median tuition costs in Salinas, CA are $44,766 for private four year colleges, and $5,742 and $17,622 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in Salinas, CA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 92.4%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 7.79%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 26,602 (45.8% men and 54.2% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 26,602 students enrolled in Salinas, CA, 45.8% men and 54.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 14,789 records, of which 59.5% were women and 40.5% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
153 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
560 degrees awarded
General Psychology
177 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Salinas, CA was General Business Administration & Management with 153 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Salinas, CA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Hartnell College
2,341 degrees awarded
Naval Postgraduate School
2,226 degrees awarded
California State University-Monterey Bay
2,220 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Hartnell College with 2,341 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 4,019 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Salinas, CA, which is 0.877 times less than the 4,582 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 4,223 degrees mean that there were 1.62 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 2,613 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($44,766) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,581) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,125) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Measure

In 2022, 2.08% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 2.26% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were Some college (6.9M), High School or Equivalent (6.8M), and Bachelors Degree (6.36M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Salinas, CA was $683,700 in 2022, which is 2.43 times larger than the national average of $281,900. Between 2021 and 2022 the median property value increased from $596,400 to $683,700, a 14.6% increase. The homeownership rate in Salinas, CA is 52.2%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.8%.

People in Salinas, CA have an average commute time of 25 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Salinas, CA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Salinas, CA is $91,043. In 2022, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Salinas, CA was Santa Clara County, CA with a value of $153,792, followed by San Mateo County, CA and Marin County, CA, with respective values of $149,907 and $142,019.

Housing

Property

$683,700

Median Property Value 2022

±$9,111

$68,359

Median Property Taxes

±$1,768

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Salinas, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Salinas, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

52.2%

Homeownership

2022

71%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2022

In 2022, 52.2% of the housing units in Salinas, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 51.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Salinas, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2022, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Salinas, CA was Santa Clara County, CA with a value of $153,792, followed by San Mateo County, CA and Marin County, CA, with respective values of $149,907 and $142,019.

The following map shows all of the counties in Salinas, CA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$91,043

Median Household Income

± $1,900

131k

Number of Households

± 2,742

In 2022, the median household income of the 131k households in Salinas, CA grew to $91,043 from the previous year's value of $82,013.

The following chart displays the households in Salinas, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Salinas, CA is from California.

0.498

2022 Wage GINI in California

0.497

2021 Wage GINI in California

In 2022, the income inequality in California was 0.498 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.107% growth from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2022

Drove Alone (69.1%)
Carpooled (10.3%)
Worked At Home (8.67%)

In 2022, 69.1% of workers in Salinas, CA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.3%) and those who worked at home (8.67%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

25 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Salinas, CA have a shorter commute time (25 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.7 minutes). Additionally, 2.98% of the workforce in Salinas, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Salinas, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Salinas, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Salinas, CA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

12.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Salinas, CA (51.9k out of 421k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Males 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Salinas, CA is Hispanic, followed by Other and White.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

90.1% of the population of Salinas, CA has health coverage, with 39.8% on employee plans, 27.7% on Medicaid, 9.49% on Medicare, 11.4% on non-group plans, and 1.72% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in California see 1234 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.484% decrease from the previous year (1240 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1102 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 236 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

1,234 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in California

Primary care physicians in California see an average of 1,234 patients per year. This represents a 0.484% decrease from the previous year (1,240 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in California in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2022, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 28.2% under 18 years, 21.5% between 18 and 34 years, 35.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 14.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

9.94%

Uninsured

39.8%

Employer Coverage

27.7%

Medicaid

9.49%

Medicare

11.4%

Non-Group

1.72%

Military or VA

Between 2021 and 2022, the percent of uninsured citizens in Salinas, CA declined by 0.0764% from 9.95% to 9.94%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Salinas, CA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Keep Exploring

California

State

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

MSA

Fresno, CA

MSA

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA

MSA

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

MSA

Hanford-Corcoran, CA

MSA