Jefferson County, Missouri 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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B
Jefferson County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $82,868 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,383 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.5% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.0% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 17% higher than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Jefferson County (4.5%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Jefferson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Jefferson County, Missouri grew by 45.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $82,868 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.505 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $69,528 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,056 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.1% | 20.6% | 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 0.505, lower than Missouri's 0.532, 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 34% more than women's income in Jefferson County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 34% wage gap accumulates to roughly $611,520 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, Missouri has narrowed from about 30% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2010, and was narrowest at 22% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,960 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.5% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 3,868 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 30 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Missouri has fallen from 8.2% to 3.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2013.
Jefferson County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, MO is the 2nd largest of the 5 counties compared here, 229,447 residents against a local median of 51,016. Jefferson County, MO's unemployment, at 3.2%, runs 20% below the 4.0% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $82,868 against a local median of $71,019, 17% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Jefferson County, MO is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.6% on unemployment, so Jefferson County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jefferson County, MO has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 5 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, MO | 229,447 | $82,868 #3/5 | 4.5%/yr #2/5 | 3.2% #2/5 | 0.505 #2/5 |
| Monroe County, IL | 35,033 | $103,327 | 4.4%/yr | 1.9% | 0.478 |
| St. Louis County, MO | 995,111 | $83,558 | 4.0%/yr | 4.3% | 0.530 |
| Washington County, MO | 23,470 | $56,625 | 5.4%/yr | 3.6% | 0.544 |
| St. Francois County, MO | 66,999 | $58,481 | 4.4%/yr | 4.5% | 0.558 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Missouri, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Missouri?
Jefferson County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $82,868, about 17% higher than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How fast is household income rising in Jefferson County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Missouri rose 45%, from $57,059 to $82,868. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Missouri as a whole: +45% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Missouri was $80,556, up 4% from $77,443 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Missouri was $68,359. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $82,868.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.505. 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 Jefferson County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Missouri has narrowed from about 30% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2010, and was narrowest at 22% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,960 since 2009.
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