Shelby County, Tennessee Income Statistics
Shelby 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
Shelby County Below averageWealthier than 78% of counties in Tennessee
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Shelby County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,222 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,794 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.1% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.6% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Shelby County is about 8% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing slower in Shelby County (4.0%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Shelby County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Tennessee average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Shelby County, Tennessee grew by 45.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,222 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Shelby County
| Metric | Shelby County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.558 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,584 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,866 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.7% | 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 Shelby County, it is 0.558, higher than Tennessee's 0.542, 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 21% more than women's income in Shelby County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $375,130 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shelby County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 22% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2010, and was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,131 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Shelby County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.8% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 33,083 people are unemployed in Shelby County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Shelby County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Shelby County, Tennessee has fallen from 10.9% to 7.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 7.1% in 2019.
Shelby County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Shelby County, TN is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 918,438 residents against a local median of 47,563. Where Shelby County, TN breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 52% above the local median of 4.7% at 7.2%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 6.9% on unemployment, so Shelby County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Shelby County, TN 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County, TN | 918,438 | $64,222 #5/6 | 4.0%/yr #5/6 | 7.2% #5/6 | 0.558 #6/6 |
| DeSoto County, MS | 191,302 | $85,458 | 4.5%/yr | 3.2% | 0.533 |
| Tipton County, TN | 61,301 | $73,641 | 3.7%/yr | 5.5% | 0.545 |
| Crittenden County, AR | 47,563 | $56,430 | 4.6%/yr | 10.1% | 0.543 |
| Fayette County, TN | 43,762 | $87,617 | 5.9%/yr | 4.7% | 0.542 |
| Tate County, MS | 28,321 | $68,865 | 5.8%/yr | 4.7% | 0.551 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Shelby County, Tennessee has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Tennessee, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Shelby County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Shelby County, Tennessee?
Shelby 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 $64,222, about 8% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
How has median household income changed in Shelby County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Shelby County, Tennessee rose 46%, from $44,080 to $64,222. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Tennessee as a whole: +46% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Shelby County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Shelby County, Tennessee was $62,593, up 5% from $59,610 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Shelby County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Shelby County, Tennessee was $52,342. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $64,222.
Is it hard to find a job in Shelby County, Tennessee?
Unemployment in Shelby County, Tennessee is 7.2%, well above the Tennessee rate of 4.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Shelby County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Shelby County is 0.558. 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 Shelby County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Shelby County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 22% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2010, and was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,131 since 2009.
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