Joplin, Missouri Income Statistics
Joplin Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Joplin Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Joplin | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,299 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,960 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.4% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.5% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Joplin is about 28% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Joplin (3.5%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Joplin earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Joplin, Missouri grew by 45.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $51,299 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Joplin
| Metric | Joplin | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.531 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,711 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,622 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.4% | 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 Joplin, it is 0.531, about the same as Missouri's 0.532, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 31% more than women's income in Joplin, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $423,115 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Joplin, Missouri has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 23%. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,973 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Joplin | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.4% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 1,217 people are unemployed in Joplin, Missouri.
The average commute time in Joplin is 15 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Joplin, Missouri has fallen from 7.9% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2021.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Joplin, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Joplin, Missouri.
How Rich Is Joplin, Missouri?
Joplin 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 $51,299, about 28% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in Joplin, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Joplin, Missouri rose 45%, from $35,262 to $51,299. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Missouri as a whole: +45% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Joplin in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Joplin, Missouri was $50,696, up 1% from $49,987 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Joplin in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Joplin, Missouri was $44,806. By 2024 it had risen 14% to $51,299.
Is unemployment high in Joplin, Missouri?
Unemployment in Joplin, Missouri is 5.4%, well above the Missouri rate of 4.0%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Joplin, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Joplin is 0.531. 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 Joplin, Missouri?
The income gap between men and women in Joplin, Missouri has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 23%. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,973 since 2009.
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