Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Pennsylvania using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
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#50. Dauphin County
- Median household income: $63,123
--- 0.8% below state average, 2.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 27.7%
--- #651 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #2,464 highest among all counties nationwide
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#49. Allegheny County
- Median household income: $62,320
--- 2.1% below state average, 4.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 29.7%
--- #505 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.6%
--- #2,414 highest among all counties nationwide
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#48. Centre County
- Median household income: $61,921
--- 2.7% below state average, 4.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 29.2%
--- #534 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #2,391 highest among all counties nationwide
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#47. Lebanon County
- Median household income: $61,632
--- 3.1% below state average, 5.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.0%
--- #881 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.5%
--- #2,363 highest among all counties nationwide
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#46. Westmoreland County
- Median household income: $61,398
--- 3.5% below state average, 5.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.7%
--- #717 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #2,347 highest among all counties nationwide
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#45. Snyder County
- Median household income: $60,227
--- 5.3% below state average, 7.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.1%
--- #1,259 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 6.6%
--- #2,268 highest among all counties nationwide
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#44. Wyoming County
- Median household income: $60,075
--- 5.6% below state average, 7.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.8%
--- #905 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.7%
--- #2,257 highest among all counties nationwide
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#43. Montour County
- Median household income: $59,915
--- 5.8% below state average, 7.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.4%
--- #840 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.8%
--- #2,239 highest among all counties nationwide
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#42. Beaver County
- Median household income: $59,014
--- 7.3% below state average, 9.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.2%
--- #861 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.1%
--- #2,154 highest among all counties nationwide
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#41. Carbon County
- Median household income: $57,601
--- 9.5% below state average, 11.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 23.6%
--- #1,051 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.6%
--- #2,050 highest among all counties nationwide
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#40. Union County
- Median household income: $56,824
--- 10.7% below state average, 12.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.6%
--- #811 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.7%
--- #1,966 highest among all counties nationwide
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#39. Greene County
- Median household income: $55,993
--- 12.0% below state average, 13.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.4%
--- #1,216 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,898 highest among all counties nationwide
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#38. Susquehanna County
- Median household income: $55,788
--- 12.3% below state average, 14.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 23.9%
--- #1,009 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,877 highest among all counties nationwide
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#37. Wayne County
- Median household income: $55,572
--- 12.7% below state average, 14.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.9%
--- #1,281 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #1,859 highest among all counties nationwide
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#36. Fulton County
- Median household income: $55,424
--- 12.9% below state average, 14.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.3%
--- #1,747 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #1,844 highest among all counties nationwide
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#35. Elk County
- Median household income: $54,961
--- 13.6% below state average, 15.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.4%
--- #1,712 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.8%
--- #1,796 highest among all counties nationwide
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#34. Lycoming County
- Median household income: $54,906
--- 13.7% below state average, 15.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.5%
--- #1,520 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.4%
--- #1,791 highest among all counties nationwide
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#33. Lackawanna County
- Median household income: $54,064
--- 15.0% below state average, 16.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.3%
--- #1,234 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.6%
--- #1,703 highest among all counties nationwide
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#32. Schuylkill County
- Median household income: $53,703
--- 15.6% below state average, 17.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.7%
--- #1,673 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.9%
--- #1,657 highest among all counties nationwide
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#31. Huntingdon County
- Median household income: $53,597
--- 15.8% below state average, 17.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.0%
--- #1,607 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.6%
--- #1,651 highest among all counties nationwide
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#30. Armstrong County
- Median household income: $53,545
--- 15.8% below state average, 17.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.1%
--- #1,601 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.3%
--- #1,643 highest among all counties nationwide
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#29. Juniata County
- Median household income: $53,502
--- 15.9% below state average, 17.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.9%
--- #1,466 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.8%
--- #1,640 highest among all counties nationwide
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#28. Luzerne County
- Median household income: $53,194
--- 16.4% below state average, 18.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.5%
--- #1,352 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.8%
--- #1,611 highest among all counties nationwide
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#27. Erie County
- Median household income: $52,863
--- 16.9% below state average, 18.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.4%
--- #1,371 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.8%
--- #1,574 highest among all counties nationwide
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#26. Mifflin County
- Median household income: $52,641
--- 17.3% below state average, 19.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.4%
--- #2,247 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.9%
--- #1,554 highest among all counties nationwide
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#25. Bradford County
- Median household income: $52,375
--- 17.7% below state average, 19.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.9%
--- #1,626 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.7%
--- #1,530 highest among all counties nationwide
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#24. Columbia County
- Median household income: $52,219
--- 17.9% below state average, 19.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.6%
--- #1,506 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.4%
--- #1,502 highest among all counties nationwide
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#23. Warren County
- Median household income: $52,034
--- 18.2% below state average, 19.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.7%
--- #2,004 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.1%
--- #1,473 highest among all counties nationwide
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#22. Crawford County
- Median household income: $51,919
--- 18.4% below state average, 20.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.1%
--- #2,120 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.2%
--- #1,455 highest among all counties nationwide
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#21. Tioga County
- Median household income: $51,838
--- 18.5% below state average, 20.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.9%
--- #1,626 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #1,445 highest among all counties nationwide
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#20. Bedford County
- Median household income: $51,531
--- 19.0% below state average, 20.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.6%
--- #2,023 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.3%
--- #1,390 highest among all counties nationwide
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#19. Venango County
- Median household income: $51,405
--- 19.2% below state average, 20.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.1%
--- #1,948 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.7%
--- #1,372 highest among all counties nationwide
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#18. Somerset County
- Median household income: $51,255
--- 19.4% below state average, 21.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.6%
--- #2,035 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.5%
--- #1,358 highest among all counties nationwide
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#17. Clinton County
- Median household income: $51,145
--- 19.6% below state average, 21.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.4%
--- #1,712 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #1,338 highest among all counties nationwide
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#16. Blair County
- Median household income: $50,856
--- 20.1% below state average, 21.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.6%
--- #1,674 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.5%
--- #1,303 highest among all counties nationwide
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#15. Mercer County
- Median household income: $50,529
--- 20.6% below state average, 22.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.1%
--- #1,768 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.1%
--- #1,270 highest among all counties nationwide
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#14. Clearfield County
- Median household income: $50,150
--- 21.2% below state average, 22.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.4%
--- #2,247 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #1,226 highest among all counties nationwide
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#13. Lawrence County
- Median household income: $50,080
--- 21.3% below state average, 22.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.3%
--- #1,734 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #1,218 highest among all counties nationwide
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#12. Sullivan County
- Median household income: $49,830
--- 21.7% below state average, 23.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.7%
--- #1,492 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.2%
--- #1,191 highest among all counties nationwide
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#11. Clarion County
- Median household income: $49,695
--- 21.9% below state average, 23.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.2%
--- #1,751 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.5%
--- #1,176 highest among all counties nationwide
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#10. Jefferson County
- Median household income: $49,604
--- 22.0% below state average, 23.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.1%
--- #2,140 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.3%
--- #1,164 highest among all counties nationwide
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#9. Northumberland County
- Median household income: $49,273
--- 22.6% below state average, 24.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.7%
--- #1,839 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.0%
--- #1,130 highest among all counties nationwide
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#8. Indiana County
- Median household income: $49,270
--- 22.6% below state average, 24.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.6%
--- #1,674 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.1%
--- #1,129 highest among all counties nationwide
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#7. McKean County
- Median household income: $49,240
--- 22.6% below state average, 24.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.4%
--- #2,072 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #1,124 highest among all counties nationwide
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#6. Philadelphia County
- Median household income: $49,127
--- 22.8% below state average, 24.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.0%
--- #1,268 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.8%
--- #1,115 highest among all counties nationwide
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#5. Fayette County
- Median household income: $49,075
--- 22.9% below state average, 24.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.4%
--- #1,889 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.1%
--- #1,109 highest among all counties nationwide
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#4. Potter County
- Median household income: $47,696
--- 25.0% below state average, 26.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.8%
--- #2,532 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.6%
--- #976 highest among all counties nationwide
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#3. Cambria County
- Median household income: $47,644
--- 25.1% below state average, 26.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.7%
--- #2,004 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.2%
--- #970 highest among all counties nationwide
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#2. Forest County
- Median household income: $41,225
--- 35.2% below state average, 36.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 7.8%
--- #3,096 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.3%
--- #435 highest among all counties nationwide
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#1. Cameron County
- Median household income: $40,342
--- 36.6% below state average, 37.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.4%
--- #3,001 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.4%
--- #373 highest among all counties nationwide
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