Charlotte, North Carolina Income Statistics
Charlotte 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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B
Charlotte Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Charlotte | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $82,573 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,037 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 17.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 14.9% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Charlotte is about 14% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Charlotte (5.0%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 17% of adults in Charlotte earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Charlotte, North Carolina grew by 57.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $82,573 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Charlotte
| Metric | Charlotte | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,207 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $58,755 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.5% | 16.7% | 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 Charlotte, it is 0.535, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, 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 21% more than women's income in Charlotte, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $435,820 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Charlotte, North Carolina has narrowed from about 19% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,534 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Charlotte | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 28.7% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 23,612 people are unemployed in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Charlotte is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Charlotte, North Carolina has fallen from 10.0% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.4% in 2023.
Charlotte, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Charlotte, NC is the largest of the 4 cities compared here, 877,380 residents against a local median of 32,912. Where Charlotte, NC breaks from the cities next to it is unemployment, sitting 63% above the local median of 2.9% at 4.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $82,573 against a local median of $108,216, 24% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Charlotte, NC reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The cities themselves spread 2.2% on unemployment, so Charlotte, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Charlotte, NC has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 4 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 877,380 | $82,573 #4/4 | 5.0%/yr #2/4 | 4.7% #3/4 | 0.535 #4/4 |
| Matthews, NC | 32,912 | $108,216 | 6.1%/yr | 2.4% | 0.505 |
| Mint Hill, NC | 25,060 | $97,851 | 4.6%/yr | 4.7% | 0.518 |
| Huntersville, NC | 52,008 | $118,316 | 3.7%/yr | 2.9% | 0.493 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Charlotte, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Charlotte, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Charlotte, North Carolina?
Charlotte 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 $82,573, about 14% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Charlotte, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Charlotte, North Carolina rose 58%, from $52,347 to $82,573. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +58% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Charlotte in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Charlotte, North Carolina was $78,790, up 6% from $74,215 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Charlotte in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Charlotte, North Carolina was $65,550. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $82,573.
How many people earn six figures in Charlotte, North Carolina?
Yes. 17% of adults in Charlotte, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 15% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
What is the Gini coefficient in Charlotte, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Charlotte is 0.535. 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 Charlotte, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Charlotte, North Carolina has narrowed from about 19% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,534 since 2009.
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