Fresno Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Fresno, CA: $22.55/hr median hourly wage, $46,910 median annual salary, cost of living index 100, and $16.50/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and California taxes.
Fresno Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Fresno, CA is $22.55/hr,and the median annual wage is $46,910. Entry-level pay estimates around $13.98/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.02/hr, and the local minimum wage is $16.50/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Fresno, CA metropolitan statistical area (476,890 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Fresno shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$46,910
$22.55/hr
Cost of Living
100
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$16.50
per hour
Unemployment
5.5%
rate
Fresno, CA Overview
Population
542,107
Median Salary
$46,910
Average Salary
$63,820
Avg Commute
22 min
Median Home Price
$325,000
Median Rent
$1,200/mo
Job Growth
+1.2%
Sales Tax
8.35%
Fresno is located in California with a population of 542,107. The median annual wage across all occupations is $46,910 ($22.55/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Fresno, CA metro), which is $4,070 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 22 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.2%.
Fresno Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Fresno, CA built around the $46,910 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Fresno, CA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $29,084 | $13.98/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $46,910 | $22.55/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $66,612 | $32.02/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $83,500 | $40.14/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Fresno Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Fresno, CA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$38,860
$3,238.34/month · $1,494.62/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.2%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,494.62 take-home per paycheck after estimated California and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$46,910
Federal Tax
-$3,449
State Tax
-$1,012
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,589
Net Pay
$38,860
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,909.17 | $46,910.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$287.43 | -$3,449.20 |
| California State Tax (2.16% eff.) | -$84.34 | -$1,012.09 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$242.37 | -$2,908.42 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$56.68 | -$680.20 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,238.34 | $38,860.10 |
Salary Comparison: Fresno vs Other Cities
See how Fresno's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $46,910 | 100 | $46,910 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Clovis, CA | $46,910 | 108.5 | $43,235 |
| Madera, CA | $46,910 | 146.8 | $31,955 |
| Southaven, MS | $46,890 | 88 | $53,284 |
| Memphis, TN | $46,890 | 86 | $54,523 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Fresno
Fresno's cost of living index is 100 (national average = 100). Fresno's cost of living matches the national average.
Median Home Price
$325,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Annual Rent Cost
$14,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $38,860 annual take-home pay in Fresno has the purchasing power of approximately $38,860 in an average-cost US area. Your $46,910 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Fresno
Fresno's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $46,910.
Salary Tips for Fresno Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 13.3% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Fresno's top industries include Agriculture, Healthcare, Education. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $46,910 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in Fresno, CA
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Fresno. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Fresno, CA metro area (78 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Fresno's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in California
Fullerton
Garden Grove
Gilroy
Glendale
Glendora
Hanford
Hawthorne
Hayward
Hemet
Hesperia
Highland
Hollister
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Fresno salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Fresno, CA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Fresno indexed at 100.
- Median salary: $46,910 annual, $22.55 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Fresno, CA MSA (476,890 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $63,820 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Fresno was $48,500.
- Tax burden reflects California 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 13.3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (8.35%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Fresno: 5.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Agriculture, Healthcare, Education, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for California.
- Housing context: median home price $325,000, median rent $1,200/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Fresno, CA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Fresno unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Fresno QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, California, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Fresno's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent California labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Fresno, CA?
The median hourly wage in Fresno, CA is $22.55 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Fresno, CA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $46,910. Entry-level workers are estimated around $13.98/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.02/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Fresno, CA?
The median salary in Fresno, CA is $46,910 per year, or $22.55 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Fresno, CA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $63,820. This is $4,070 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Fresno, CA?
Fresno's cost of living index is 100 (national average = 100), meaning it is equal to the cost of living compared to the national average. The median home price is $325,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,200.
What are the best industries in Fresno?
The top industries in Fresno, CA include Agriculture, Healthcare, Education. The city has a job growth rate of 1.2% and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $46,910.
How does Fresno's salary compare to other cities?
Fresno's median salary of $46,910 is 8.0% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 100), the real purchasing power is approximately $46,910.
What is the minimum wage in Fresno, CA?
The minimum wage in Fresno, CA is $16.50 per hour. This equals approximately $34,320 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $9.25 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.