Salem, Oregon Income Statistics
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
Salem Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Salem | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,163 | $83,617 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,421 | $63,212 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 5.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.9% | 14.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.7% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Salem is about 13% lower than in Oregon. Income has been growing slower in Salem (5.6%/yr) than in Oregon (5.7%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Salem earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Oregon average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Salem, Oregon grew by 73.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $73,163 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Salem
| Metric | Salem | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.553 | 0.538 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,507 | $71,900 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,797 | $60,417 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.3% | 16.0% | 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 Salem, it is 0.553, higher than Oregon's 0.538, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 10% more than women's income in Salem, Oregon. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $199,850 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Salem, Oregon has narrowed from about 15% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 17% in 2013, and was narrowest at 9% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $306 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Salem | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.6% | 19.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 4,602 people are unemployed in Salem, Oregon.
The average commute time in Salem is 17 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Oregon.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Salem, Oregon has fallen from 11.2% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.6% in 2023.
Salem, OR Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Salem, OR compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | 158,986 | $73,163 #2/2 | 5.6%/yr #1/2 | 5.8% #2/2 | 0.553 #2/2 |
| Keizer, OR | 30,546 | $84,517 | 4.8%/yr | 4.2% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Salem, Oregon has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Oregon, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Salem, Oregon.
How Rich Is Salem, Oregon?
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 $73,163, about 13% lower than the Oregon average of $83,617.
How has median household income changed in Salem, Oregon?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Salem, Oregon rose 73%, from $42,252 to $73,163. Over the same years, income here outpaced Oregon as a whole: +73% against +71%.
What was the median household income in Salem in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Salem, Oregon was $70,621, up 6% from $66,579 in 2022. The Oregon median that year was $80,917.
What was the median household income in Salem in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Salem, Oregon was $57,756. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $73,163.
What is the Gini coefficient in Salem, Oregon?
The Gini coefficient in Salem is 0.553. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Salem, Oregon?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Salem, Oregon has narrowed from about 15% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 17% in 2013, and was narrowest at 9% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $306 since 2009.
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