Berkeley County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Berkeley 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
Berkeley County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in South Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Berkeley County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $84,225 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,819 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.3% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.9% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Berkeley County is about 21% higher than in South Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Berkeley County (5.4%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Berkeley County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Berkeley County, South Carolina grew by 71.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $84,225 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Berkeley County
| Metric | Berkeley County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.520 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,793 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,630 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.7% | 21.2% | 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 Berkeley County, it is 0.520, lower than South Carolina's 0.547, 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 35% more than women's income in Berkeley County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $600,705 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berkeley County, South Carolina has widened from about 22% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,614 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Berkeley County widened by 4.1 points while South Carolina's narrowed by 2.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Berkeley County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.4% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 3,887 people are unemployed in Berkeley County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Berkeley County is 27 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Berkeley County, South Carolina has fallen from 9.5% to 3.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.3% in 2013.
Berkeley County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Berkeley County, SC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 246,888 residents against a local median of 64,818. Where Berkeley County, SC breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 31% below the local median of 4.4% at 3.0%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $84,225 against a local median of $67,903, 24% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Berkeley County, SC is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 3.4% on unemployment, so Berkeley County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Berkeley County, SC has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County, SC | 246,888 | $84,225 #2/6 | 5.4%/yr #4/6 | 3.0% #1/6 | 0.520 #1/6 |
| Charleston County, SC | 420,867 | $88,480 | 6.0%/yr | 3.4% | 0.529 |
| Dorchester County, SC | 166,443 | $78,650 | 4.2%/yr | 4.9% | 0.533 |
| Williamsburg County, SC | 30,282 | $45,868 | 6.1%/yr | 4.0% | 0.568 |
| Clarendon County, SC | 30,986 | $52,680 | 5.6%/yr | 6.8% | 0.550 |
| Georgetown County, SC | 64,818 | $67,903 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.547 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Berkeley County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than South Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Berkeley County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Berkeley County, South Carolina?
Berkeley 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 $84,225, about 21% higher than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
Are incomes growing in Berkeley County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Berkeley County, South Carolina rose 71%, from $49,200 to $84,225. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Carolina as a whole: +71% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Berkeley County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Berkeley County, South Carolina was $82,601, up 6% from $78,266 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Berkeley County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Berkeley County, South Carolina was $65,317. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $84,225.
How strong is the job market in Berkeley County, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Berkeley County, South Carolina is only 3.0%, well below the South Carolina rate of 4.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Berkeley County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Berkeley 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 Berkeley County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berkeley County, South Carolina has widened from about 22% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,614 since 2009.
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