Pennington County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Pennington 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.
-
B
Pennington County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Pennington County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,480 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,994 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.6% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.9% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Pennington County is about 1% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Pennington County (4.7%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Pennington County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the South Dakota average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Pennington County, South Dakota grew by 60.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,480 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Pennington County
| Metric | Pennington County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.506 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,486 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,320 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.2% | 19.7% | 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 Pennington County, it is 0.506, about the same as South Dakota's 0.504, 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 18% more than women's income in Pennington County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $320,810 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pennington County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 22% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $271 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Pennington County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.6% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 1,808 people are unemployed in Pennington County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Pennington County is 16 minutes, longer than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Pennington County, South Dakota has fallen from 6.0% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.1% in 2012 and fell as low as 2.9% in 2021.
Pennington County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Pennington County, SD is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 113,512 residents against a local median of 13,491. Where Pennington County, SD breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 24% above the local median of 2.5% at 3.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 14.2% on unemployment, so Pennington County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Pennington County, SD has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington County, SD | 113,512 | $74,480 #3/6 | 4.7%/yr #5/6 | 3.1% #5/6 | 0.506 #4/6 |
| Meade County, SD | 30,546 | $74,726 | 4.4%/yr | 2.9% | 0.490 |
| Custer County, SD | 8,892 | $83,495 | 6.1%/yr | 2.3% | 0.487 |
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 13,491 | $40,506 | 5.5%/yr | 15.9% | 0.742 |
| Lawrence County, SD | 27,233 | $72,290 | 5.4%/yr | 1.7% | 0.508 |
| Fall River County, SD | 7,258 | $70,318 | 5.7%/yr | 2.5% | 0.490 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Pennington County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with South Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Pennington County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Pennington County, South Dakota?
Pennington 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 $74,480, about 1% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How has median household income changed in Pennington County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Pennington County, South Dakota rose 61%, from $46,307 to $74,480. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Dakota as a whole: +61% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Pennington County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Pennington County, South Dakota was $70,559, up 5% from $67,434 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Pennington County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Pennington County, South Dakota was $58,378. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $74,480.
What is the Gini coefficient in Pennington County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Pennington County is 0.506. 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 Pennington County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pennington County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 22% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $271 since 2009.
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