Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Wilkes-Barre 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
Wilkes-Barre Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $48,741 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,609 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.4% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.6% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wilkes-Barre is about 38% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing faster in Wilkes-Barre (5.6%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 3% of adults in Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania grew by 69.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $48,741 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wilkes-Barre
| Metric | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.546 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $48,042 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,760 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.0% | 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 Wilkes-Barre, it is 0.546, higher than Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income is less 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 12% more than women's income in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 12% wage gap accumulates to roughly $184,870 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 19% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2011, and was narrowest at 7% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,183 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.2% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,695 people are unemployed in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Wilkes-Barre is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has fallen from 8.4% to 8.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.1% in 2017 and fell as low as 7.9% in 2021.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Pennsylvania, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?
Wilkes-Barre 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 $48,741, about 38% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
Are incomes growing in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania rose 69%, from $28,845 to $48,741. Over the same years, income here outpaced Pennsylvania as a whole: +69% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Wilkes-Barre in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania was $48,220, up 2% from $47,152 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Wilkes-Barre in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania was $40,940. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $48,741.
Is it hard to find a job in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?
Unemployment in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is 8.2%, well above the Pennsylvania rate of 5.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Wilkes-Barre is 0.546. 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 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 19% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2011, and was narrowest at 7% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,183 since 2009.
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