Richland County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Richland 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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C
Richland County Below averageWealthier than 82% of counties in South Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Richland County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,219 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,837 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.9% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.4% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.9% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Richland County is about 7% lower than in South Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Richland County (2.9%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Richland County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Richland County, South Carolina grew by 34.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,219 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Richland County
| Metric | Richland County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.559 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,383 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,377 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.9% | 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 Richland County, it is 0.559, higher than South Carolina's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 22% more than women's income in Richland County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $385,210 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Richland County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 22% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $916 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Richland County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.6% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 13,726 people are unemployed in Richland County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Richland County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Richland County, South Carolina has fallen from 9.2% to 6.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.8% in 2020.
Richland County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Richland County, SC is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 422,111 residents against a local median of 68,312. Richland County, SC's income growth, at 2.9%/yr, runs 31% below the 4.2%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.3%/yr on income growth, so Richland County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Richland County, SC has the 6th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County, SC | 422,111 | $64,219 #3/6 | 2.9%/yr #6/6 | 6.2% #5/6 | 0.559 #6/6 |
| Calhoun County, SC | 14,182 | $58,414 | 4.0%/yr | 5.8% | 0.530 |
| Lexington County, SC | 304,957 | $77,064 | 4.1%/yr | 4.4% | 0.523 |
| Fairfield County, SC | 20,550 | $47,611 | 4.4%/yr | 5.5% | 0.529 |
| Kershaw County, SC | 68,312 | $69,050 | 5.2%/yr | 4.7% | 0.532 |
| Sumter County, SC | 104,715 | $56,802 | 4.2%/yr | 6.3% | 0.553 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Richland County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than South Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Richland County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Richland County, South Carolina?
Richland County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $64,219, about 7% lower than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
How has median household income changed in Richland County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Richland County, South Carolina rose 34%, from $47,875 to $64,219. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Carolina as a whole: +34% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Richland County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Richland County, South Carolina was $62,501, up 4% from $59,833 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Richland County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Richland County, South Carolina was $55,269. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $64,219.
Is unemployment high in Richland County, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Richland County, South Carolina is 6.2%, well above the South Carolina rate of 4.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Richland County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Richland County is 0.559. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Richland County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Richland County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 22% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $916 since 2009.
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