Pulaski County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Pulaski 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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D
Pulaski County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Pulaski County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,614 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,592 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.5% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.0% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Pulaski County is about 18% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Pulaski County (5.4%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Pulaski County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kentucky average of 9%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Pulaski County, Kentucky grew by 61.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,614 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Pulaski County
| Metric | Pulaski County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.548 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,256 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,956 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.5% | 19.4% | 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 Pulaski County, it is 0.548, about the same as Kentucky's 0.547, so income here is about as evenly distributed as 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 20% more than women's income in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $290,500 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pulaski County, Kentucky has widened from about 15% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2016, and was narrowest at 13% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,210 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Pulaski County widened by 1.8 points while Kentucky's narrowed by 5.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Pulaski County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.7% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 1,373 people are unemployed in Pulaski County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Pulaski County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Pulaski County, Kentucky has fallen from 8.2% to 4.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2014 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2022.
Pulaski County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Pulaski County, KY is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 65,897 residents against a local median of 16,867. Pulaski County, KY 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, 15% above the local median at $52,614 against $45,787. Pulaski County, KY 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County, KY | 65,897 | $52,614 #2/6 | 5.4%/yr #3/6 | 4.9% #3/6 | 0.548 #3/6 |
| Lincoln County, KY | 24,512 | $52,661 | 5.2%/yr | 6.5% | 0.530 |
| Rockcastle County, KY | 16,158 | $49,228 | 5.0%/yr | 4.6% | 0.566 |
| McCreary County, KY | 16,867 | $33,374 | 7.9%/yr | 4.2% | 0.624 |
| Wayne County, KY | 19,602 | $45,787 | 5.4%/yr | 5.7% | 0.538 |
| Casey County, KY | 15,914 | $45,684 | 4.5%/yr | 8.9% | 0.569 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Pulaski County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Kentucky, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Pulaski County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Pulaski County, Kentucky?
Pulaski County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $52,614, about 18% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
Are incomes growing in Pulaski County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Pulaski County, Kentucky rose 61%, from $32,579 to $52,614. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +61% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Pulaski County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Pulaski County, Kentucky was $51,200, up 6% from $48,259 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Pulaski County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Pulaski County, Kentucky was $40,579. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $52,614.
What is the Gini coefficient in Pulaski County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Pulaski County is 0.548. 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 Pulaski County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pulaski County, Kentucky has widened from about 15% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2016, and was narrowest at 13% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,210 since 2009.
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