Irvine residents are seeing their paychecks outpace inflation faster than those in nearly any other major U.S. city, according to a recent study by financial technology company SmartAsset.
The analysis compared income growth with rising prices across 94 major U.S. cities over a two-year period. Irvine ranked seventh nationwide — and second in California — with inflation-adjusted median household income rising 10.6% to $145,731.
The City also stands out for its high-earning households: 34.8% make at least $200,000 annually, giving Irvine the third-highest share in the nation, just behind San Jose and San Francisco.
ICNV staff writers are local Irvine journalists who are personally familiar with the events and issues they write about.
Latest posts by ICNV Staff (see all)
- Help Shape the Future of Irvine’s Libraries - November 12, 2026
- The Art of Versatility: From UCI to Business and Beyond - November 11, 2026
- Irvine is the Third Best City in America to Raise a Family - November 11, 2026
