Meade County Income Charts

This section shows the Meade County South Dakota economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Meade County depicts it has a Median earnings of $43,940 which is the third most median earnings of all other counties in the greater Meade County region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Butte County which depicts a median earnings of $46,705 (6.3% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Meade County is about 21.2% smaller. Also, compared with the state of South Dakota, median earnings per worker of $46,456, Meade County is about 5.7% smaller.

In Figure 2 a more complete view of income is shown which aggregates income from all members in the household and it has a Median household income of $68,242 which is ranked #1 of all counties in the greater Meade County region. Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Meade County is about the same size. Also, measured against the state of South Dakota, median household income of $63,920, Meade County is 6.8% larger.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Meade County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 5.2% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 4.7% of the total.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 40.0 which is in the mid range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Haakon County which shows an average hours of 44.2 (10.5% larger). Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $21.12 which is in the middle range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Butte County which shows an average hourly earnings of $22.74 (7.6% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Meade County is about 25.0% smaller. Also, benchmarked against the state of South Dakota, average hourly earnings of $22.56, Meade County is about 6.8% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Meade County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Meade County shows it has a Self Employed of 14.2% which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Perkins County which shows a percentage self employed of 36.5% (approximately 2.6 times bigger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, it has the largest proportion of median income-under 25 years at $73,241 of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has in the mid range of other counties in the metro area in terms of median income-25 to 44 years at $77,124 of the total. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-45 to 64 years at $46,201 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Pennington County ($49,908), and #1 Lawrence County ($50,159) are larger.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 22.2% which is the third most households with retirement income of all other counties in the greater Meade County region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Lawrence County which shows a households with retirement income of 24.6% (10.7% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and it has one of the largest proportions of overall family income at $80,157 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Pennington County ($85,588), and #1 Ziebach County ($109,773) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian family income at $75,250 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Lawrence County with $113,971.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meade County depicts it has the hightest cost of 105.9 for the cost of grocery items grouping.

Meade County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data estimated by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS tracks unemployment statistics for a large number of areas throughout the country on a month to month basis. However, not every location in the U.S. is tracked by the BLS so the chart will only show the closest location available (which may be the same location.) Figure 14 shows the monthly unemployment rate for the area as well as a comparison to the overall national economy measure for the United States. Note that in March to April 2020, the Covid 19 recession or great recession occurred and affects this metric. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 6.3% to 3.1% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 50.8%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 2.3% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 25.8%. In Figure 15 the monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work are also defined as unemployed but do not include people who have given up looking for work. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 12,879 to 13,443 in March 2020. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 4.4%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 14,899 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 10.8%.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate/eligible for unemployment benefits and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows Meade County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 2.3% which is the third most unemployment rate of all other counties in the greater Meade County region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Ziebach County which shows a rate of 20.6% ( considerably bigger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Meade County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 70.5% which is the highest of all counties in the local area.

The Components of Employment Status graph in Figure 18 shows the composition of the labor force broken down by employed, unemployed, and not in the labor force (but 16 years of age or older). Meade County has the smallest proportion of unemployed at 29.5% of the total.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Meade County depicts full time employees approximately 3.5 times bigger as the part time employees.

The next employment related data item is shown in Figure 21 which is the percentage of families with only a single earner in the greater Meade County area. Meade County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 25.1% which is the second most of all the counties in the local area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Haakon County which shows a single earners rate of 42.6% (69.9% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Meade County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 9.9% which is the second smallest in order of families with no one working of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Lawrence County which depicts a families with no worker of 20.3% (about twice as large).

Meade County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Meade County community. This performance can be enhanced by government programs such as economic opportunity zone to influence manufacturing, job growth, economic opportunity an hopefully lead to economic recovery after the recent Covid 19 recession. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. Meade County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 2,126 which is the third most total people earning less than the poverty level of all other counties in the greater Meade County region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Pennington County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 13,304 ( very much bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Meade County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 7.4% which is the smallest when ranked by percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Ziebach County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 44.5% ( substantially bigger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Meade County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 20% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 26% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 35 to 54 years at 20% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Meade County has one of the largest proportions of white poverty rate at 29% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Lawrence County with 43%. Second, it has the smallest proportion of black poverty rate at 6% of the total. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of american indian poverty rate at 9% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Pennington County (14%), and #1 Butte County (100%) are larger. Also, it has the second smallest in terms of white poverty rate of all the other counties in the local area as measured by hawaiian poverty rate at 4% of the total.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Meade County has the smallest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 21% of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area as measured by unmarried with children and in poverty at 35% of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the metro area as measured by unmarried female with children and in poverty at 8% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Meade County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 7% of the total. Figure 29 looks at only those people who make less than the poverty level of income and breaks down there employment status. Meade County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 25.3% of the total and is ranked #1. Additionally, Figure 30 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) Meade County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 7.0% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Ziebach County which shows a households with public assistance of 39.9% ( very much bigger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Meade County shows it has a Gini Index of 38.9% which is the smallest when ranked by the gini index of all the other counties in the local area.

Meade County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Meade County or elsewhere.) Meade County has one of the largest proportions of people who drove alone at 75% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Pennington County (81%), and #1 Lawrence County (81%) are larger. Second, it has less than most other counties in the metro area when sorted by people who work from home at 9% of the total.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Meade County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 5% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 14% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Meade County has the percentage of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes less than most other counties in the local area at 16% of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area in terms of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 16% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 15 to 19 minutes at 19% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 30 to 34 minutes at 1% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 40 to 44 minutes at 6% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 45 to 59 minutes at 2% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Meade County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 20 which is the third most average commute time of all other counties in the greater Meade County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Meade County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 48.0% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Meade County has the percentage of no vehicle available the second smallest as measured by no vehicle available of all the other counties in the metropolitan area at 11% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 39% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has less than most other counties in the metropolitan area when ranked by 4 vehicles available at 9% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Meade County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 33% which is the smallest when ranked by people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Perkins County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 82% (approximately 2.4 times bigger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Meade County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in contrast to the state of South Dakota, people who both work and live in the same city of 68%, Meade County is approximately half the size.

Meade County Jobs Charts

The next to charts break out the median earnings for major job categories for men and women. Figure 46 shows the median earnings of men for the job categories. Meade County indicates it has the hightest median earnings of $64,565 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations group. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Meade County indicates it has the hightest median earnings of $85,250 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations aggregate. The table in Figure 48, shows Meade County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Meade County Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows economic activity in terms of the number of people who are self employed in incorporated local business by industry. Meade County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 41% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses category.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories such as manufacturing, retail sales, residential real estate, commercial real estate, health care, exports/imports, and advanced industries, etc. Meade County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 18% for the self employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining classification.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Meade County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $37,739 which is the second smallest when ranked by average annual self employment income of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Haakon County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $69,238 (about twice as large). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Meade County is about 11.7% smaller. Also, in contrast to the state of South Dakota, average annual self employment income of $40,950, Meade County is about 8.5% smaller.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Meade County depicts total number of self-employed men approximately 2.3 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.