North Carolina Income Statistics
North Carolina Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
North Carolina Below averageLess wealthy than 73% of states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in North Carolina
- Wake County (116% of U.S. avg)
- Union County (111% of U.S. avg)
- Chatham County (110% of U.S. avg)
- Hyde County (72% of U.S. avg)
- Scotland County (72% of U.S. avg)
- Tyrrell County (73% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | North Carolina | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in North Carolina is about 10% lower than in US. Income has been growing faster in North Carolina (5.2%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 12% of adults in North Carolina earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in North Carolina grew by 60.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,438 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in North Carolina
| Metric | North Carolina | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 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 North Carolina, it is 0.547, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $369,495 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in North Carolina has narrowed from about 20% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2011, and was narrowest at 17% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,332 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | North Carolina | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 251,845 people are unemployed in North Carolina.
The average commute time in North Carolina is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in North Carolina has fallen from 9.5% to 4.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.9% in 2013.
North Carolina Wealth Compared With Nearby States
North Carolina is the largest of the 6 states compared here, 10,724,323 residents against a local median of 5,295,781. The measure that sets North Carolina apart most is median household income: $72,438, 23% below the local median of $93,527. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.2%/yr against a local median of 4.3%/yr, 20% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while median household income runs behind it, so North Carolina is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The states themselves spread $50,931 on median household income, so North Carolina sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. North Carolina has the 4th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 10,724,323 | $72,438 #4/6 | 5.2%/yr #2/6 | 4.6% #2/6 | 0.547 #4/6 |
| Virginia | 8,702,460 | $93,527 | 4.3%/yr | 4.1% | 0.544 |
| South Carolina | 5,295,781 | $69,383 | 5.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.547 |
| West Virginia | 1,778,099 | $59,640 | 4.3%/yr | 5.4% | 0.554 |
| District of Columbia | 678,314 | $110,571 | 5.3%/yr | 6.3% | 0.501 |
| Maryland | 6,204,886 | $103,916 | 4.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.534 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in North Carolina.
How Rich Is North Carolina?
North Carolina has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $72,438, about 10% lower than the US average of $80,455.
How fast is household income rising in North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in North Carolina rose 61%, from $45,065 to $72,438. Over the same years, income here outpaced the U.S. as a whole: +61% against +57%.
What was the median household income in North Carolina in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in North Carolina was $69,937, up 5% from $66,339 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in North Carolina in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in North Carolina was $57,007. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $72,438.
What is the Gini coefficient in North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in North Carolina is 0.547. 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 North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in North Carolina has narrowed from about 20% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2011, and was narrowest at 17% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,332 since 2009.
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