African American Income

Black Median Household income: $33,460
(all races $50,502)

All Black Workers 2012 weekly earnings: $606
(all races $765)

Black Men weekly earnings: $633
(White men $854)

Black Women weekly earnings: $590
(White women $712)

SOURCE: 2012 3rd Quarter: Bureau of Labor Statistics – 16 Years or Older & 2011 Census
Bureau American Community Survey

During the 1990s African American income grew tremendously. By 2000, 57.9% of African American households had an annual income of $35K or more compared to just 38.2% in 1970. However due to the recession that number dropped to just 46% by 2011 reversing much of these gains. The most dramatic change during this same period is the percentage of Black households making under $15K (from 14.5% in 2000 to 25.4% in 2011) which is well below the poverty line.

 

Although incomes for African Americans have improved significantly since the Civil Rights era, they are still lower then the average Americans. For example the median income for Black families is $20 thousand a year less than the American median income. As you can see from the chart labeled Family Income 2010 that Black married-couple families make more than twice that of Female householder families. This charts also proves that there is a substantial benefit for those in a married-couple family regardless of race or ethnicity.

Wages by Education

Income in the Black or African American Median Income may have decreased due to the increase in unemployment in 2010.  Another indication is the correlation between education and wages.  There are many educated African Americans in the work force, however, the numbers begin to lower from High School educated persons to Masters educated persons. There is less compensation overall among African Americans which, of course, affects the median income.