2026 median income limits for California by household size. Free calculator and filing guide.
The table below shows the approximate annual and monthly income thresholds for California by household size. If your annualized income (6-month average multiplied by 12) is at or below the figure for your household size, you pass Part 1 of the means test.
| Household Size | Annual Median | Monthly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $79,253 | $6,604 |
| 2 persons | $103,029 | $8,586 |
| 3 persons | $120,465 | $10,039 |
| 4 persons | $140,278 | $11,690 |
| 5 persons | $151,378 | $12,615 |
| 6 people | $162,478 | $13,540 |
For each additional person above 4, add approximately $11,100 to the 4-person figure.
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California requires bankruptcy filers to use state-specific exemptions rather than the federal bankruptcy exemptions. This means the property you can protect in Chapter 7 is determined entirely by California state law. Understanding your state's homestead exemption, vehicle exemption, and wildcard exemption amounts is critical before filing.
4 districts
California has 4 federal bankruptcy districts. The district where you file depends on where you have lived for the greater part of the last 180 days. Each district may have different local rules and procedures, so check the local rules for your specific district before filing.
The single-person median income threshold in California is $79,253, which is near the national middle range. Filers whose income is close to this threshold should carefully average their last 6 calendar months of gross income. If one or two months had unusually high income (bonus, overtime, severance), waiting for those months to fall outside the 6-month window can change the result.
Numbers from the Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database covering 6,723 consumer bankruptcy cases filed in California federal bankruptcy courts. These are actual case outcomes - not estimates - and show what really happens after filing.
| Chapter | Cases Filed | Discharge Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | 5,808 | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| Chapter 13 | 915 | 38.8% | 61.2% |
86.4% of consumer filings
13.6% of consumer filings
California shows a Chapter 13 discharge rate of 39% in resolved cases, which is in the middle of the national distribution. Completion is meaningfully easier here than in the highest-dismissal districts, but still far from guaranteed. Chapter 7 in California is a high-completion path: 98% of resolved filings receive discharge. For filers who pass the means test, this is a reliable outcome. California files more Chapter 7 than Chapter 13 (86.4% vs 13.6%), consistent with a state where median income supports more below-median filers and fewer debtors needing a 3-5 year repayment structure.
Discharge and dismissal rates are computed on resolved cases only; pending cases are excluded. Source: FJC Integrated Database.
There is no single income limit. The means test compares your annualized income (6-month average times 12) to the median income for your household size. For a single person in California, the current median is approximately $79,253 per year. For a family of four, it is approximately $140,278. If your income is below the median for your household size, you pass Part 1 of the means test.
California requires filers to use state exemptions only - the federal bankruptcy exemptions under 11 U.S.C. Section 522(d) are not available. Key exemptions to research include the homestead exemption, motor vehicle exemption, personal property exemption, and any wildcard exemption that may apply.
Failing Part 1 of the means test (having above-median income) does not disqualify you. You must then complete Part 2 (Form 122A-2), which deducts allowable expenses - including IRS standard amounts, actual secured debt payments, taxes, insurance, and child care. Many above-median filers pass Part 2. If you still do not pass, Chapter 13 is an alternative that allows debt repayment over 3 to 5 years with no income ceiling.
Free tools and guides from the Open Bankruptcy Project.
Means Test Calculator Exemptions by StateOur research was cited by the federal judiciary as Suggestions 26-BK-3 and 26-BK-5