Mellette County Income Charts

This section shows the Mellette 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, Mellette County shows it has a Median earnings of $44,167 which is at the top of all other counties in the greater Mellette County region. Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Mellette County is about 20.6% smaller. Also, measured against the state of South Dakota, median earnings per worker of $46,456, Mellette County is only about 5.2% 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 $35,726 which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Lyman County which shows a median income of $55,977 (56.7% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Mellette County is approximately half the size. Also, compared to the state of South Dakota, median household income of $63,920, Mellette County is approximately half the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Mellette County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 0.7% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 34.6% 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 38.3 which is the second smallest in order of average hours of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Jones County which shows an average hours of 41.8 (9.1% 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 $22.18 which is more than all other counties in the greater Mellette County region. Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Mellette County is about 19.1% smaller. Also, measured against the state of South Dakota, average hourly earnings of $22.56, Mellette County is about the same size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Mellette County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Mellette County depicts it has a Self Employed of 18.9% which is in the mid range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Lyman County which depicts a percentage self employed of 22.2% (17.3% larger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years less than most other counties in the area at $33,295 of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the metro area in terms of median income-25 to 44 years at $40,500 of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the local area in order of median income-45 to 64 years at $32,143 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Mellette County has the largest proportion of income from wages at 17.2% of the total and is ranked #1.

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 16.2% which is less than most other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Jackson County which shows a households with retirement income of 20.9% (29.0% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and has the percentage of overall family income the second smallest when sorted by overall family income of all the other counties in the greater region at $56,458 of the total. Second, it has the second smallest as measured by overall family income of all the other counties in the greater region as measured by black family income at $13,750 of the total.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mellette County depicts it has the hightest cost of 102.2 for the cost of healthcare grouping.

Mellette County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at 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 2022, the Covid 19 recession occurred and affects this metric. The monthly unemployment rate shows that from February 2017 to before the disasterous Coronavirus Pandemic it went from 4.8% to 6.3% in December 2019. This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 31.2%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 6.3%. This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of very little. 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. The monthly labor force participation indicates that from January 2017 to before the COVID-19 Pandemic it went from 736 to 741 in November 2019. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of very little. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 741. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of very little.

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 Mellette County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 5.9% which is the second most of all the counties in the local area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Todd County which depicts a rate of 5.9% ( about the same size). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Mellette County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 41.7% which is the second smallest in terms of participation rate of all the other counties in the greater region.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Mellette County depicts full time employees approximately 2.6 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 Mellette County area. Mellette County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 30.0% which is in the middle range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Todd County which shows a single earners rate of 44.5% (48.0% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Mellette County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 30.0% which is the second most families with no one working of all the counties in the greater Mellette County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Jackson County which depicts a families with no worker of 39.7% (32.1% larger).

Mellette County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Mellette 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. Mellette County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 922 which is less than most other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Todd County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 5,471 ( markedly bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Mellette County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 50.0% which is the second most percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the counties in the greater Mellette County region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Todd County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 59.0% (18.1% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Mellette County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty under 12 years at 10% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 24% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Mellette County has the largest proportion of black poverty rate at 67% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of asian poverty rate at 100% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Mellette County has one of the largest proportions of married with children and in poverty at 74% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Todd County with 81%. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of unmarried with children and in poverty at 82% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Todd County with 85%. Third, it has less than most other counties in the greater region when ranked by unmarried female with children and in poverty at 53% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Mellette County has one of the largest proportions of less than highschool in poverty at 45% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Jackson County (45%), and #1 Todd County (56%) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of highschool graduate and in poverty at 41% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Todd County with 42%. Third, it has the largest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 17% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 29 looks at only those people who make less than the poverty level of income and breaks down there employment status. Mellette County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 40.2% 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.) Mellette County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 28.7% which is the second most of all the counties in the greater region. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Todd County which depicts a households with public assistance of 41.0% (43.1% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Mellette County shows it has a Gini Index of 47.6% which is in the center range of other counties in the local area.

Mellette County Work Commute Charts

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Mellette County has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 6am to 630am at 2% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 630 am to 7am at 35% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 10am to 11am at 5% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 11am to 12noon at 1% of the total. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm at 9% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Mellette County has the percentage of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes less than most other counties in the area at 17% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 25 to 29 minutes at 15% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 30 to 34 minutes at 5% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 40 to 44 minutes at 12% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Mellette County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 19 which is ranked #1 of all counties in the greater Mellette County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Mellette County depicts average commute time in minutes for men about 8.8% smaller as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Mellette County has the percentage of 1 vehicle available the second smallest in terms of no vehicle available of all the other counties in the area at 22% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of 2 vehicles available at 40% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the second smallest when ranked by no vehicle available of all the other counties in the area in terms of 3 vehicles available at 6% of the total. Also, it has less than most other counties in the local area in terms of 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.) Mellette County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 54% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Jackson County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 84% (54.0% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Mellette County is 23.8% larger. Also, compared to the state of South Dakota, people who both work and live in the same city of 68%, Mellette County is about 24.6% smaller.

Mellette 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. Mellette County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $67,083 for the management, business, and financial occupations category. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Mellette County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $51,250 for the earnings-sales and office occupations grouping. The table in Figure 48, shows Mellette County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Mellette 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. Mellette County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 88% for the self employed in service businesses group.

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. Mellette County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 88% for the self employed in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services aggregate.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Mellette County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $43,446 which is the third most average annual self employment income of all other counties in the greater Mellette County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Bennett County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $62,730 (44.4% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Mellette County is only about 3.1% larger. Also, in comparison with the state of South Dakota, average annual self employment income of $40,950, Mellette County is 6.1% larger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Mellette County shows total number of self-employed men 59.5% larger as the total number of self-employed women.