Sawyer County, Wisconsin Income Statistics
Sawyer 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
Sawyer County Below averageLess wealthy than 77% of counties in Wisconsin
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Sawyer County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $60,880 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,335 | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.5% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.1% | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Sawyer County is about 22% lower than in Wisconsin. Income has been growing faster in Sawyer County (4.8%/yr) than in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Sawyer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Wisconsin average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Sawyer County, Wisconsin grew by 63.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $60,880 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Sawyer County
| Metric | Sawyer County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.501 | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,610 | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,675 | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.3% | 19.3% | 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 Sawyer County, it is 0.501, about the same as Wisconsin's 0.503, 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 27% more than women's income in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $452,725 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 24% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2021, and was narrowest at 16% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,258 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Sawyer County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.7% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 494 people are unemployed in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Sawyer County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has fallen from 9.1% to 6.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2015 and fell as low as 5.0% in 2020.
Sawyer County, WI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Sawyer County, WI is typical in size for this group, 18,476 residents against a local median of 16,575, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Sawyer County, WI apart most is unemployment: 6.0%, 67% above the local median of 3.6%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.5% on unemployment, so Sawyer County, WI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Sawyer County, WI has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawyer County, WI | 18,476 | $60,880 #4/6 | 4.8%/yr #3/6 | 6.0% #6/6 | 0.501 #5/6 |
| Rusk County, WI | 14,178 | $59,944 | 5.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.479 |
| Washburn County, WI | 16,854 | $63,863 | 4.6%/yr | 3.9% | 0.510 |
| Bayfield County, WI | 16,575 | $71,393 | 5.1%/yr | 3.6% | 0.489 |
| Price County, WI | 14,089 | $60,738 | 4.1%/yr | 2.9% | 0.479 |
| Chippewa County, WI | 66,799 | $74,640 | 4.4%/yr | 3.1% | 0.488 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Sawyer County, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Wisconsin, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Sawyer County, Wisconsin?
Sawyer 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 $60,880, about 22% lower than the Wisconsin average of $77,698.
How fast is household income rising in Sawyer County, Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Sawyer County, Wisconsin rose 63%, from $37,330 to $60,880. Over the same years, income here outpaced Wisconsin as a whole: +63% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Sawyer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Sawyer County, Wisconsin was $59,071, up 2% from $58,177 in 2022. The Wisconsin median that year was $75,781.
What was the median household income in Sawyer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Sawyer County, Wisconsin was $52,474. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $60,880.
Is it hard to find a job in Sawyer County, Wisconsin?
Unemployment in Sawyer County, Wisconsin is 6.0%, well above the Wisconsin rate of 3.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Sawyer County, Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Sawyer County is 0.501. 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 Sawyer County, Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 24% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2021, and was narrowest at 16% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,258 since 2009.
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