Men in California: what the Census says
In California, 41.7% of men 15 and older have never married (nationally: 37.6%), 37.1% of men 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher (35.4% nationally), and men who work full-time year-round have median earnings of $72,043. Every figure is from the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey, with margins of error.
Men and women in California, side by side
| Measure | Men in California | Women in California | Men, US | Rank among men, 51 states incl. DC (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never married (age 15+) | 41.7% ±0.2% | 35.7% ±0.2% | 37.6% | #2 of 51 |
| Currently divorced (age 15+) | 7.1% ±0.1% | 10.1% ±0.1% | 8.8% | #49 of 51 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 37.1% ±0.3% | 39.1% ±0.3% | 35.4% | #15 of 51 |
| Veterans (age 18+) | 7.3% ±0.1% | 0.8% ±0.0% | 10.7% | #48 of 51 |
| Below the poverty level | 10.8% ±0.2% | 12.8% ±0.2% | 11.0% | #22 of 51 |
| Median earnings, full-time year-round workers | $72,043 ±$298 | $63,653 ±$1,257 | $66,965 | #12 of 51 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates (tables B12001, B15002, B17001, B21001, B20017). Retrieved 2026-10-09. ± values are 90% margins of error. Poverty rate and the others are shares of the group named in each row; earnings are for civilian full-time, year-round workers 16+, in 2024 dollars.
How California compares with men nationally
- Never married (age 15+): 41.7% for men in California versus 37.6% for men nationally, 4.0 points higher; that is larger than the combined margin of error.
- Currently divorced (age 15+): 7.1% for men in California versus 8.8% for men nationally, 1.7 points lower; that is larger than the combined margin of error.
- Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+): 37.1% for men in California versus 35.4% for men nationally, 1.7 points higher; that is larger than the combined margin of error.
- Veterans (age 18+): 7.3% for men in California versus 10.7% for men nationally, 3.4 points lower; that is larger than the combined margin of error.
- Below the poverty level: 10.8% for men in California versus 11.0% for men nationally, 0.2 points lower; that is within the combined margin of error, so the survey cannot distinguish it from the national figure.
Women in California are 6.0 points less likely than men to have never married. The two groups can have different age profiles and this table does not adjust for age, so use it to see differences, not to explain them.
What these numbers don't tell you
- They are survey estimates, not a census count of every man; a figure within its margin of error of another is not clearly different.
- They are not adjusted for age, income, or local costs, and they say nothing about causes. A state with more never-married men may simply have a younger population.
- Being unmarried is not the same as being isolated, and being married is not the same as being connected. The U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 advisory treats loneliness and social connection as a public-health issue: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.
Keep going
- Therapy and insurance in California: coverage, Medicaid and low-cost options.
- The other side: how women's earnings compare with men's in California (Typical Female, same Census survey).
- Debate of the month: add your take.
- States with a similar share of never-married men: New York, Massachusetts, Illinois.
- All states
If you are struggling, you do not have to work it out alone. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) any time. This page is general information from public data, not medical advice.