Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Dauphin 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
Dauphin County Around averageWealthier than 79% of counties in Pennsylvania
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Dauphin County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,316 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,638 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.9% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.0% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Dauphin County is about 2% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing slower in Dauphin County (4.0%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Dauphin 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 Dauphin County, Pennsylvania grew by 47.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,316 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Dauphin County
| Metric | Dauphin County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.520 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,478 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,481 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.3% | 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 Dauphin County, it is 0.520, lower than Pennsylvania's 0.537, 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 24% more than women's income in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $454,895 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 22% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2010, and was narrowest at 18% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,781 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Dauphin County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 16.8% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 6,734 people are unemployed in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Dauphin County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania has fallen from 6.8% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.3% in 2022.
Dauphin County, PA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Dauphin County, PA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 289,538 residents against a local median of 90,556. The measure that sets Dauphin County, PA apart most is unemployment: 4.5%, 22% above the local median of 3.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.1% on unemployment, so Dauphin County, PA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Dauphin County, PA has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dauphin County, PA | 289,538 | $76,316 #4/6 | 4.0%/yr #4/6 | 4.5% #6/6 | 0.520 #5/6 |
| Lebanon County, PA | 144,187 | $78,489 | 4.2%/yr | 4.3% | 0.512 |
| Northumberland County, PA | 90,556 | $60,926 | 4.3%/yr | 3.7% | 0.517 |
| Snyder County, PA | 39,662 | $67,239 | 3.5%/yr | 2.4% | 0.530 |
| Perry County, PA | 46,229 | $79,736 | 3.9%/yr | 3.1% | 0.492 |
| York County, PA | 462,883 | $85,271 | 4.5%/yr | 4.5% | 0.508 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Pennsylvania, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Dauphin County, Pennsylvania?
Dauphin 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 $76,316, about 2% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
Are incomes growing in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania rose 48%, from $51,605 to $76,316. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Pennsylvania as a whole: +48% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Dauphin County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania was $74,221, up 4% from $71,577 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Dauphin County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania was $63,714. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $76,316.
What is the Gini coefficient in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Dauphin County is 0.520. 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 Dauphin County, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 22% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2010, and was narrowest at 18% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,781 since 2009.
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