Sharkey County, Mississippi Income Statistics
Sharkey 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
Sharkey County Well below averageLess wealthy than 74% of counties in Mississippi
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Sharkey County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $40,000 | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $38,812 | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.1% | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.5% | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Sharkey County is about 29% lower than in Mississippi. Income has been growing faster in Sharkey County (4.6%/yr) than in Mississippi (4.3%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Sharkey County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Mississippi average of 7%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Sharkey County, Mississippi grew by 35.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $40,000 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Sharkey County
| Metric | Sharkey County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.603 | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $34,792 | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,961 | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -14.9% | 22.8% | 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 Sharkey County, it is 0.603, higher than Mississippi's 0.566, 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.
Women's income is about 15% more than men's income in Sharkey County, Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $180,915 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Sharkey County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 38% to -15% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $17,473 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Sharkey County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 9.1% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 1.9% | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 155 people are unemployed in Sharkey County, Mississippi.
The average commute time in Sharkey County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Sharkey County, Mississippi has fallen from 17.3% to 9.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 20.0% in 2012 and fell as low as 8.8% in 2021.
Sharkey County, MS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Sharkey County, MS is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 3,872 residents against a local median of 7,395. The measure that sets Sharkey County, MS apart most is median household income: $40,000, 18% above the local median of $33,899. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $9,096 on median household income, so Sharkey County, MS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Sharkey County, MS 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharkey County, MS | 3,872 | $40,000 #2/6 | 4.6%/yr #5/6 | 9.1% #3/6 | 0.603 #3/6 |
| Issaquena County, MS | 928 | $32,857 | 6.0%/yr | 5.1% | 0.648 |
| Humphreys County, MS | 7,395 | $33,899 | 4.4%/yr | 12.5% | 0.598 |
| Washington County, MS | 42,708 | $41,953 | 5.0%/yr | 6.3% | 0.578 |
| Yazoo County, MS | 24,832 | $39,375 | 4.8%/yr | 9.7% | 0.643 |
| East Carroll Parish, LA | 7,072 | $33,130 | 5.5%/yr | 13.9% | 0.675 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Sharkey County, Mississippi has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Mississippi, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Sharkey County, Mississippi.
How Rich Is Sharkey County, Mississippi?
Sharkey 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 $40,000, about 29% lower than the Mississippi average of $56,669.
How has median household income changed in Sharkey County, Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Sharkey County, Mississippi rose 35%, from $29,555 to $40,000. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Mississippi as a whole: +35% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Sharkey County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Sharkey County, Mississippi was $36,481, down 11% from $41,111 in 2022. The Mississippi median that year was $55,083.
What was the median household income in Sharkey County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Sharkey County, Mississippi was $35,859. By 2024 it had risen 12% to $40,000.
Is unemployment high in Sharkey County, Mississippi?
Unemployment in Sharkey County, Mississippi is 9.1%, well above the Mississippi rate of 5.7%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Sharkey County, Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Sharkey County is 0.603. 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 Sharkey County, Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Sharkey County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 38% to -15% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $17,473 since 2009.
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