Jefferson County, Alabama Income Statistics
Jefferson County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Jefferson County Below averageWealthier than 92% of counties in Alabama
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,976 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,046 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.5% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.5% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 4% higher than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Jefferson County (4.4%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Jefferson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Alabama average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Jefferson County, Alabama grew by 49.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,976 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,958 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,991 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.0% | 25.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Jefferson County, it is 0.554, lower than Alabama's 0.560, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Jefferson County, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $453,845 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Alabama has narrowed from about 21% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,499 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.1% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 15,418 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Alabama.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 22 minutes, about the same as in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Alabama has fallen from 9.3% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.3% in 2013.
Jefferson County, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, AL is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 666,272 residents against a local median of 64,822. Jefferson County, AL sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 7% above the local median at $66,976 against $62,709. Jefferson County, AL has the 2nd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, AL | 666,272 | $66,976 #2/6 | 4.4%/yr #3/6 | 4.7% #3/6 | 0.554 #5/6 |
| Shelby County, AL | 230,211 | $98,402 | 3.9%/yr | 2.9% | 0.531 |
| Walker County, AL | 64,822 | $56,232 | 5.3%/yr | 4.9% | 0.552 |
| Blount County, AL | 59,518 | $64,592 | 4.4%/yr | 5.0% | 0.537 |
| Cullman County, AL | 90,566 | $62,709 | 6.0%/yr | 3.8% | 0.547 |
| Bibb County, AL | 22,130 | $52,304 | 3.6%/yr | 12.1% | 0.569 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, Alabama has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Alabama, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, Alabama.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Alabama?
Jefferson County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $66,976, about 4% higher than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How fast is household income rising in Jefferson County, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Alabama rose 50%, from $44,727 to $66,976. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Alabama as a whole: +50% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Alabama was $65,004, up 2% from $63,700 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Alabama was $55,535. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $66,976.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Jefferson County, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Alabama has narrowed from about 21% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,499 since 2009.
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