The 2012 Tour de France and Olympic time trial champion posted a total time of 28:22:05 to add the most prestigious American race to his resume.
He took the general classification lead in the second stage, a time trial on Monday, and was never seriously challenged.
“It’s right up there,” Wiggins told the NBC Sports Network, when asked how highly he rated his victory.
“It’s always an honour to win the yellow jersey. I set my stool out to win the Tour of California and… I’ve done that now. At 34, it’s nice to still be winning at this age.”
Wiggins also vowed that if he rides in the Tour de France in July, it will be in support of Sky teammate Chris Froome, the defending champion.
“Chris wants to win a second tour and I think everyone’s behind that, including myself, and he’s defending champion and he’s earned the right to do that.
“(If) I am fortunate enough to be at the tour it will be in support of Chris. I continue to stand by that.”
Cavendish had to work hard to edge German John Degenkolb by a few centimetres in the sprint finish, with Slovakia's Peter Sagan, the winner of Saturday’s seventh stage, in third place.
“I’m in the form of my life,” said Cavendish.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, Editing by Gene Cherry)
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