Salaries in Pomona, CA

Pomona has a secret that surprises a lot of people who only know it as a freeway exit: it’s a city of sharp contrasts. You’ve got a median household income of $78,317 that looks decent on paper, but then you see the 1BR rent hovering around $2,252 a month. The math gets real fast.

Here’s the purchasing power story in a nutshell. Pomona’s cost of living index sits at 115.5—about 15% above the national average. That means your dollar doesn’t go as far as it might in, say, the Midwest. An average salary here of $56,061 feels tight when you factor in that rent. The COL-adjusted average drops to just $48,538. It’s not a bargain; it’s a squeeze, especially if you’re paying that rent alone.

So who’s actually thriving here? The data points to a split economy. On one side, you’ve got the tech-adjacent roles. A software developer can pull in $133,177, which is fantastic—though adjusted for cost, it’s more like $115,305. Then there’s the steady, blue-collar backbone: electricians earning $64,412 ($55,768 adjusted) and trades that keep the city’s older housing stock running. Education is a major employer, thanks to Cal Poly Pomona and the local school districts, but teachers face a tough climb—$66,630 sounds okay until you see the $57,688 adjusted reality.

Here’s my honest take: wages aren’t keeping pace with housing costs. The unemployment rate is a manageable 5.2%, but that 22.1% of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher suggests a lot of folks are working jobs that don’t match their credentials. Pomona can work if you’re in a high-demand trade or you’ve got a remote tech salary. For everyone else, it’s a hustle.

The numbers below will show you exactly where the gaps are—and where the opportunities lie.