Corporate Profit Growth Has Far Surpassed Growth in Workers' Earnings Over Last 20 Years

Percent Change in Corporate Profits and Median Worker Earnings in California Since 2002, Inflation-Adjusted

Line chart showing inflation-adjusted changes in California profits and median employment earnings for full-time year-round workers in California from 2002 to 2021.
Note: Corporate profits reflect the total California profits of corporations reporting positive state net income. Median employment earnings reflects the median wage or salary income of California adults who worked full-time (at least 35 hours), year-round (at least 50 weeks) in a private-sector job. Values are adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers - Retroactive Series (R-CPI-U-RS).
Source: Budget Center analysis of Franchise Tax Board and US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey data via IPUMSEmbedDownload image