Government budget and revenue in California, United States: official figures
California's state government took in $477.9 billion in fiscal year 2024, $12,139 per resident, 9th highest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the California state government spend?
The California state government spent $520.7 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $13,228 per resident, 5th highest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 29.3% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($402.7 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the California state government have?
California state government debt outstanding was $166.4 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $4,227 per resident, 12th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 35% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $143.3 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does California get?
The federal government provided $133.8 billion to the California state government in fiscal year 2024, $3,398 per resident and 28.0% of its general revenue, 6th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to California spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $104.5 billion or 78% of California's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $12.5 billion (9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the California state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $3,981 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 12th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,244 per resident and highways $306.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does California give to local governments and schools?
39.3% of California's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($204.0 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 2nd highest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does California collect?
California collected $275.0 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $6,989 per resident, 4th highest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 3.6% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($265.6 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does California rely on?
The individual income tax raised $128.7 billion (46.8% of state taxes, 6th highest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $53.5 billion (19.4%, 9th lowest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the individual income tax (46.8%), followed by the general sales and gross receipts tax (19.4%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes California have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in California, corporate net income tax raised $39.4 billion (14.3% of state taxes); state property tax raised $3.7 billion; severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals raised $176.5 million (0.1% of state taxes).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the California state government hold in reserves?
The California state government held $1.04 trillion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $26,542 per resident, of which $1.06 trillion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow California compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
California ranks 9 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Wyoming | $13,416 |
| 7 | New York | $13,131 |
| 8 | Delaware | $12,996 |
| 9 | California | $12,139 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $11,577 |
| 11 | Oregon | $11,361 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $11,182 |
State government spending per person (2024)
California ranks 5 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | New Mexico | $15,695 |
| 3 | Vermont | $14,785 |
| 4 | New York | $13,329 |
| 5 | California | $13,228 |
| 6 | Delaware | $13,137 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $12,865 |
| 8 | Oregon | $12,574 |
State government debt per person (2024)
California ranks 12 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | New Jersey | $6,020 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $5,379 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $5,032 |
| 12 | California | $4,227 |
| 13 | Maryland | $4,147 |
| 14 | Vermont | $4,125 |
| 15 | Oregon | $3,964 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
California ranks 22 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Massachusetts | $3,415 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $3,410 |
| 21 | Indiana | $3,403 |
| 22 | California | $3,398 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $3,367 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $3,360 |
| 25 | Michigan | $3,323 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
California ranks 45 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Connecticut | 29.6% |
| 43 | Delaware | 28.9% |
| 44 | Idaho | 28.8% |
| 45 | California | 28.0% |
| 46 | Utah | 26.7% |
| 47 | Virginia | 26.7% |
| 48 | Kansas | 24.9% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
California ranks 4 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $8,075 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $7,703 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $7,028 |
| 4 | California | $6,989 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $6,902 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $6,711 |
| 7 | New York | $6,563 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
California ranks 6 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Montana | 47.7% |
| 4 | Virginia | 47.3% |
| 5 | Georgia | 47.3% |
| 6 | California | 46.8% |
| 7 | New York | 46.6% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 45.3% |
| 9 | Colorado | 43.5% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
California ranks 42 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Illinois | 22.9% |
| 40 | Maryland | 21.5% |
| 41 | Massachusetts | 21.0% |
| 42 | California | 19.4% |
| 43 | Virginia | 18.8% |
| 44 | New York | 15.5% |
| 45 | Vermont | 11.9% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
California ranks 12 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Louisiana | $4,053 |
| 10 | Maine | $4,045 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $4,035 |
| 12 | California | $3,981 |
| 13 | Delaware | $3,785 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $3,557 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $3,534 |
More on California: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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