Salaries in Upland, CA

You might assume a city where nearly 40% of residents hold a bachelor's degree would have salaries to match. Upland, CA, with its 78,707 people, challenges that assumption. It’s a place where your paycheck stretches less than you’d expect, even if it looks healthy on paper.

Let’s talk real purchasing power. The city’s cost of living sits at 107.9, meaning everything from groceries to utilities costs about 8% more than the national average. That median household income of $114,165 sounds great, but when a one-bedroom apartment runs you $2,104 a month, you feel the squeeze. The COL-adjusted average salary here is just $51,595, which tells you the gap between what people earn and what it costs to live comfortably is real. It’s not a bargain, but it’s not San Francisco-level extortion either.

So who actually thrives here? Upland isn’t a corporate titan, but it has anchors. The healthcare sector is robust, with registered nurses pulling in a solid $88,109. Education is another steady bet, though teachers earn a more modest $65,178. The real money, unsurprisingly, is in tech. Software developers are the top earners at $130,276, though even that feels light when you adjust for costs. Local employers like San Antonio Regional Hospital and the Upland Unified School District keep things stable, but they’re not driving explosive wage growth.

Here’s the honest catch: wages aren’t keeping pace with the cost of living, especially for anyone outside of tech or specialized healthcare. The unemployment rate is a manageable 5.2%, but that doesn’t mean jobs are plentiful. Upland works best for dual-income households or those with established careers who can command top dollar. For everyone else, it’s a balancing act.

The data below will show you exactly where the money is—and where it isn’t—in Upland’s job market.