Wayne County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Wayne 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
Wayne County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wayne County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,780 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,258 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.7% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.2% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wayne County is about 17% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Wayne County (5.0%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Wayne County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Wayne County, North Carolina grew by 48.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,780 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wayne County
| Metric | Wayne County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.530 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,417 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,747 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.4% | 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 Wayne County, it is 0.530, 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 23% more than women's income in Wayne County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $338,450 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wayne County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 24% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $539 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wayne County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.4% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,810 people are unemployed in Wayne County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Wayne County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wayne County, North Carolina has fallen from 9.8% to 4.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2021.
Wayne County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Wayne County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 118,630 residents against a local median of 54,882. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Wayne County, NC an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 14% above the local median at 5.0%/yr against 4.4%/yr. Wayne County, NC has the 3rd highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County, NC | 118,630 | $59,780 #2/6 | 5.0%/yr #3/6 | 4.9% #2/6 | 0.530 #2/6 |
| Greene County, NC | 20,465 | $52,621 | 4.0%/yr | 5.6% | 0.580 |
| Wilson County, NC | 79,278 | $56,688 | 4.4%/yr | 5.6% | 0.548 |
| Lenoir County, NC | 54,882 | $45,135 | 2.6%/yr | 9.0% | 0.535 |
| Johnston County, NC | 234,262 | $84,644 | 6.2%/yr | 3.8% | 0.532 |
| Duplin County, NC | 49,292 | $55,498 | 5.8%/yr | 5.3% | 0.515 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wayne County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Wayne County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Wayne County, North Carolina?
Wayne 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 $59,780, about 17% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Wayne County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wayne County, North Carolina rose 48%, from $40,373 to $59,780. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +48% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Wayne County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wayne County, North Carolina was $58,139, up 7% from $54,385 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Wayne County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wayne County, North Carolina was $47,379. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $59,780.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wayne County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Wayne County is 0.530. 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 Wayne County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wayne County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 24% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $539 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 →