Winston-Salem, North Carolina Income Statistics
Winston-Salem 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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D
Winston-Salem Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Winston-Salem | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,156 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,324 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.7% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.0% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Winston-Salem is about 20% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Winston-Salem (4.8%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem, North Carolina grew by 40.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,156 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Winston-Salem
| Metric | Winston-Salem | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.568 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,811 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,168 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.3% | 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 Winston-Salem, it is 0.568, higher than North Carolina's 0.547, 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.
Men's income is about 11% more than women's income in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 11% wage gap accumulates to roughly $197,505 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Winston-Salem, North Carolina has narrowed from about 17% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2012, and was narrowest at 9% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,310 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Winston-Salem | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.9% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 6,511 people are unemployed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Winston-Salem is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina has fallen from 10.0% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.7% in 2020.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Winston-Salem, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
Winston-Salem 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 $58,156, about 20% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Winston-Salem, North Carolina rose 40%, from $41,464 to $58,156. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +40% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Winston-Salem in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Winston-Salem, North Carolina was $57,085, up 7% from $53,547 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Winston-Salem in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Winston-Salem, North Carolina was $46,415. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $58,156.
What is the Gini coefficient in Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Winston-Salem is 0.568. 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 Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Winston-Salem, North Carolina has narrowed from about 17% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2012, and was narrowest at 9% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,310 since 2009.
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