Statistics About Black Americans - Income

86.7% are employed (March 2009). Source: U.S. Department of Labor. All-time high since slavery's end: 92.8% (April 2000)

24% employed by the government

75.5% live above the poverty line (vs. 10% in 1940 and 45% in 1960) (national rate living above poverty: 87.5%). Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

All-time high above poverty: 79% in 2001

5% rich, 44% middle class, 27% working class, 24% poor (2004)

Median black household income: $33,916 (national median: $50,233). Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Median income for married black households: $48,000 (2002)

Top 5 states with highest median black household income: New Hampshire $43,574, Alaska $42,887, Maryland $41,652, Hawaii $41,032, New Jersey $38,513

Married black households: 50% earn $50,000+. 27% earn $75,000+

Overall black households: 33% earn $50,000+. 16% earn $75,000+

Per capita black income: $18,428 (national figure: $26,804). Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Median black adult male income (as of July 2007): $36,068. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Median black adult female income (as of July 2007): $31,009. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Poverty rate by black family composition: married-couple families 8%, single-dad families 19%, single-mom families 35%

70% of black children overall are not poor, 30% are poor

Percentage of poor black children who live in single-mom households: 85%
Poverty rate for blacks, ages 65+: 78% not poor, 22% poor. Women 26%, men 16%

Combined black GDP: $845 billion per year (2007, would be world's 18th largest economy). Source: Selig Center for Economic Growth/University of Georgia

Per capita black GDP: $22,062.67 (akin to Czech Republic, Kuwait, Slovenia, and Greece)

Black consumers account for almost nine cents out of every U.S. dollar spent. Source: Selig Center for Economic Growth/University of Georgia

Top 5 expenditures: housing $131.7 billion, food $52.7bn, vehicles $47.9 bn, clothing $22.9 bn, health care $16.7 bn

Median black individual net worth: $16,000

Mean black families' net worth (2001): $75,700 (vs. $59,400 in 1992)

Average savings for black Americans earning $50,000 or more a year: $48,000. Source: Argosy Research study, 2007.

Percent of black investors who invest in stocks and mutual funds: 57%. Argosy Research study, 2007.

Black financial assets: $1.4 trillion. 42% in home, 33% in financials (stocks, bonds, etc.)

5% own businesses. 1 million black-owned businesses

Top 5 states with largest # of black businesses: New York, California, Texas, Florida, Georgia

27% of blacks ages 16+ who work in management, professional and related occupations (as of July 2007). Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Black women: 36% technical/sales/administrative support, 27% service, 25% professional/manager (vs. 4% in 1960)

Black men: 28% operator/fabricator/laborer, 19% professional/manager (vs. 4% in 1960), 19% technical/sales/administrative support, 19% service

Home ownership (as of July 2007): 46% (vs. 35% in 1950). Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Number of billionaires: 2 (Robert Johnson, BET founder; Oprah Winfrey, Harpo Productions)

Sources: 2007 University of Georgia Selig Center study, U.S. Census Bureau, National Black Chamber of Commerce, Target Market News, 2004 NUL "State of Black America" Report