Shawnee County, Kansas Income Statistics
Shawnee 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
Shawnee County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Shawnee County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,459 | $74,287 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,752 | $56,052 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.3% | 4.1% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.3% | 11.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.8% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Shawnee County is about 8% lower than in Kansas. Income has been growing slower in Shawnee County (3.3%/yr) than in Kansas (4.1%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Shawnee County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kansas average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Shawnee County, Kansas grew by 46.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,459 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Shawnee County
| Metric | Shawnee County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.507 | 0.525 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,412 | $65,134 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,958 | $51,314 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.1% | 21.2% | 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 Shawnee County, it is 0.507, lower than Kansas's 0.525, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Shawnee County, Kansas. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $330,890 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shawnee County, Kansas has narrowed from about 26% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2011, and was narrowest at 15% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,350 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Shawnee County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.2% | 11.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 17 | 22 |
Approximately 3,621 people are unemployed in Shawnee County, Kansas.
The average commute time in Shawnee County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Kansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Shawnee County, Kansas has fallen from 7.2% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.0% in 2021.
Shawnee County, KS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Shawnee County, KS is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 178,025 residents against a local median of 15,744. Where Shawnee County, KS breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 72% above the local median of 2.4% at 4.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.3%/yr against a local median of 4.2%/yr, 20% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Shawnee County, KS reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 2.6% on unemployment, so Shawnee County, KS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Shawnee County, KS has the 4th lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee County, KS | 178,025 | $68,459 #6/6 | 3.3%/yr #6/6 | 4.1% #4/6 | 0.507 #4/6 |
| Jackson County, KS | 13,341 | $75,327 | 4.2%/yr | 1.8% | 0.488 |
| Osage County, KS | 15,744 | $74,471 | 4.7%/yr | 1.9% | 0.497 |
| Jefferson County, KS | 18,348 | $85,263 | 5.0%/yr | 2.4% | 0.480 |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 7,009 | $77,014 | 3.8%/yr | 4.4% | 0.512 |
| Douglas County, KS | 120,302 | $70,602 | 3.8%/yr | 4.2% | 0.553 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Shawnee County, Kansas has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Kansas, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Shawnee County, Kansas.
How Rich Is Shawnee County, Kansas?
Shawnee 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 $68,459, about 8% lower than the Kansas average of $74,287.
How fast is household income rising in Shawnee County, Kansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Shawnee County, Kansas rose 47%, from $46,637 to $68,459. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kansas as a whole: +47% against +53%.
What was the median household income in Shawnee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Shawnee County, Kansas was $66,552, up 5% from $63,451 in 2022. The Kansas median that year was $72,660.
What was the median household income in Shawnee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Shawnee County, Kansas was $58,855. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $68,459.
What is the Gini coefficient in Shawnee County, Kansas?
The Gini coefficient in Shawnee County is 0.507. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Shawnee County, Kansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shawnee County, Kansas has narrowed from about 26% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2011, and was narrowest at 15% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,350 since 2009.
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