In 2022, just over 50 percent of Americans had an annual household income that was less than 75,000 U.S. dollars. The median household income was 74,580 U.S. dollars in 2022.
Income and wealth in the United States
After the economic recession in 2009, income inequality in the U.S. is more prominent across many metropolitan areas. The Northeast region is regarded as one of the wealthiest in the country. Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts were among the states with the highest median household income in 2020. In terms of income by race and ethnicity, the average income of Asian households was 94,903 U.S. dollars in 2020, while the median income for Black households was around half of that figure.
What is the U.S. poverty threshold?
The U.S. Census Bureau annually updates its list of poverty levels. Preliminary estimates show that the average poverty threshold for a family of four people was 26,500 U.S. dollars in 2021, which is around 100 U.S. dollars less than the previous year. There were an estimated 37.9 million people in poverty across the United States in 2021, which was around 11.6 percent of the population. Approximately 19.5 percent of those in poverty were Black, while 8.2 percent were white.
Percentage distribution of household income in the United States in 2022
Income in 2021 CPI-U-RS adjusted dollars.
Income refers to money income before tax. A detailed explanation of the measurement of income can be found on page 21 of the report.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
US Census Bureau. (September 12, 2023). Percentage distribution of household income in the United States in 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 29, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/203183/percentage-distribution-of-household-income-in-the-us/?session=36fc3bef031c66fa94957dc2b7b31237
US Census Bureau. "Percentage distribution of household income in the United States in 2022." Chart. September 12, 2023. Statista. Accessed June 29, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/203183/percentage-distribution-of-household-income-in-the-us/?session=36fc3bef031c66fa94957dc2b7b31237
US Census Bureau. (2023). Percentage distribution of household income in the United States in 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 29, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/203183/percentage-distribution-of-household-income-in-the-us/?session=36fc3bef031c66fa94957dc2b7b31237
US Census Bureau. "Percentage Distribution of Household Income in The United States in 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/203183/percentage-distribution-of-household-income-in-the-us/?session=36fc3bef031c66fa94957dc2b7b31237
US Census Bureau, Percentage distribution of household income in the United States in 2022 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/203183/percentage-distribution-of-household-income-in-the-us/?session=36fc3bef031c66fa94957dc2b7b31237 (last visited June 29, 2024)
Percentage distribution of household income in the United States in 2022 [Graph], US Census Bureau, September 12, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/203183/percentage-distribution-of-household-income-in-the-us/?session=36fc3bef031c66fa94957dc2b7b31237