Pulaski County, Missouri 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.
-
D
Pulaski County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Pulaski County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,978 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,457 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.1% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.2% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Pulaski County is about 7% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Pulaski County (3.7%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Pulaski County 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 Pulaski County, Missouri grew by 54.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $65,978 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Pulaski County
| Metric | Pulaski County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.514 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $47,152 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,136 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 8.5% | 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 Pulaski County, it is 0.514, 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 9% more than women's income in Pulaski County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 9% wage gap accumulates to roughly $140,560 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, Missouri has narrowed from about 23% to 9% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,884 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Pulaski County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.7% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 932 people are unemployed in Pulaski County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Pulaski County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Pulaski County, Missouri has fallen from 6.4% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.9% in 2014.
Pulaski County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Pulaski County, MO is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 53,894 residents against a local median of 25,269. The measure that sets Pulaski County, MO apart most is unemployment: 3.1%, 39% below the local median of 5.1%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.7%/yr against a local median of 4.4%/yr, 15% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Pulaski County, MO is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 1.4% on unemployment, so Pulaski County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Pulaski County, MO has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County, MO | 53,894 | $65,978 #1/6 | 3.7%/yr #5/6 | 3.1% #1/6 | 0.514 #2/6 |
| Laclede County, MO | 36,390 | $53,754 | 3.6%/yr | 5.3% | 0.524 |
| Phelps County, MO | 45,194 | $58,562 | 4.4%/yr | 3.9% | 0.570 |
| Maries County, MO | 8,450 | $59,513 | 5.1%/yr | 4.8% | 0.519 |
| Miller County, MO | 25,269 | $57,595 | 4.7%/yr | 5.3% | 0.509 |
| Texas County, MO | 25,161 | $50,042 | 4.4%/yr | 5.1% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Pulaski County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Pulaski County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Pulaski County, Missouri?
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 $65,978, about 7% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in Pulaski County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Pulaski County, Missouri rose 54%, from $42,754 to $65,978. Over the same years, income here kept pace with Missouri as a whole: +54% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Pulaski County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Pulaski County, Missouri was $66,743, up 8% from $62,050 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Pulaski County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Pulaski County, Missouri was $58,343. By 2024 it had risen 13% to $65,978.
What is the Gini coefficient in Pulaski County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Pulaski County is 0.514. 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 Pulaski County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pulaski County, Missouri has narrowed from about 23% to 9% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,884 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 →