Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Income Statistics
Ouachita Parish 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.
-
D
Ouachita Parish Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,024 | $60,934 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,134 | $53,184 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 3.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.2% | 9.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.9% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ouachita Parish is about 10% lower than in Louisiana. Income has been growing faster in Ouachita Parish (4.4%/yr) than in Louisiana (3.7%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Ouachita Parish earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Louisiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana grew by 44.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $55,024 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ouachita Parish
| Metric | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.583 | 0.574 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,384 | $65,171 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,302 | $47,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.2% | 27.8% | 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 Ouachita Parish, it is 0.583, higher than Louisiana's 0.574, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 32% more than women's income in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $527,870 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana has narrowed from about 30% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 21% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,242 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 6.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.3% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 4,816 people are unemployed in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
The average commute time in Ouachita Parish is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Louisiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana has fallen from 7.5% to 6.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.4% in 2020.
Ouachita Parish, LA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ouachita Parish, LA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 158,478 residents against a local median of 19,819. The measure that sets Ouachita Parish, LA apart most is unemployment: 6.5%, 27% below the local median of 8.9%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.4%/yr against a local median of 3.5%/yr, 26% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Ouachita Parish, LA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 5.0% on unemployment, so Ouachita Parish, LA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ouachita Parish, LA has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita Parish, LA | 158,478 | $55,024 #1/6 | 4.4%/yr #3/6 | 6.5% #2/6 | 0.583 #4/6 |
| Caldwell Parish, LA | 9,498 | $47,006 | 6.0%/yr | 10.1% | 0.582 |
| Richland Parish, LA | 19,819 | $53,307 | 5.4%/yr | 8.9% | 0.600 |
| Union Parish, LA | 20,797 | $42,659 | 1.8%/yr | 5.1% | 0.588 |
| Jackson Parish, LA | 14,881 | $44,918 | 2.1%/yr | 7.4% | 0.568 |
| Morehouse Parish, LA | 24,551 | $39,643 | 3.5%/yr | 9.4% | 0.578 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Louisiana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
How Wealthy Is Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
Ouachita Parish 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 $55,024, about 10% lower than the Louisiana average of $60,934.
How fast is household income rising in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana rose 44%, from $38,114 to $55,024. Over the same years, income here kept pace with Louisiana as a whole: +44% against +44%.
What was the median household income in Ouachita Parish in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana was $51,399, up 4% from $49,332 in 2022. The Louisiana median that year was $60,038.
What was the median household income in Ouachita Parish in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana was $44,941. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $55,024.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
The Gini coefficient in Ouachita Parish is 0.583. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana has narrowed from about 30% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 21% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,242 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →