Berks County, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Berks 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.
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B
Berks County Around averageWealthier than 74% of counties in Pennsylvania
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $80,413 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $60,001 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.7% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Berks County is about 3% higher than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing slower in Berks County (4.3%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Berks County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Berks County, Pennsylvania grew by 48.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $80,413 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Berks County
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.533 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,125 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,239 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.7% | 19.2% | 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 Berks County, it is 0.533, about the same as Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 22% more than women's income in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $416,010 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berks County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 25% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2010, and was narrowest at 17% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $125 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Berks County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.9% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 12,185 people are unemployed in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Berks County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Berks County, Pennsylvania has fallen from 8.7% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.3% in 2023.
Berks County, PA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Berks County, PA is typical in size for this group, 432,828 residents against a local median of 378,708, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Berks County, PA breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 26% above the local median of 4.3% at 5.4%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.5% on unemployment, so Berks County, PA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Berks County, PA has the 4th lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berks County, PA | 432,828 | $80,413 #4/6 | 4.3%/yr #4/6 | 5.4% #4/6 | 0.533 #5/6 |
| Lehigh County, PA | 378,708 | $80,478 | 4.2%/yr | 5.9% | 0.535 |
| Schuylkill County, PA | 143,391 | $68,265 | 4.9%/yr | 5.6% | 0.521 |
| Chester County, PA | 543,223 | $127,033 | 4.5%/yr | 3.8% | 0.522 |
| Lancaster County, PA | 557,898 | $87,635 | 5.0%/yr | 3.4% | 0.520 |
| Lebanon County, PA | 144,187 | $78,489 | 4.2%/yr | 4.3% | 0.512 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Berks County, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Pennsylvania, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Berks County, Pennsylvania?
Berks County 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 $80,413, about 3% higher than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
How has median household income changed in Berks County, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Berks County, Pennsylvania rose 49%, from $54,073 to $80,413. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Pennsylvania as a whole: +49% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Berks County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Berks County, Pennsylvania was $78,559, up 5% from $74,602 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Berks County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Berks County, Pennsylvania was $66,866. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $80,413.
What is the Gini coefficient in Berks County, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Berks County is 0.533. 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 Berks County, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berks County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 25% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2010, and was narrowest at 17% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $125 since 2009.
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