Ferry County Income Charts

This section shows the Ferry County Washington economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Ferry County depicts it has a Median earnings of $40,528 which is the smallest in order of median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Pend Oreille County which shows a median earnings of $54,216 (33.8% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Ferry County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Washington, median earnings per worker of $63,384, Ferry County is approximately three-fourths the size.

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 $45,907 which is the smallest as measured by median household income of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Douglas County which depicts a median income of $68,979 (50.3% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Ferry County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of Washington, median household income of $82,400, Ferry County is approximately half the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Ferry County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 11.4% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $20,000 and $49,999 at 17.5% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $50,000 and $74,999 at 5.0% of the total. Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 4 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $20.04 which is the smallest as measured by average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Spokane County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $27.00 (34.8% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Ferry County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of Washington, average hourly earnings of $31.66, Ferry County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 5 examines the number of self employed people in the Ferry County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Ferry County shows it has a Self Employed of 11.3% 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 Stevens County which shows a percentage self employed of 13.2% (16.3% larger).

Figure 6 breaks down the source of income and Ferry County has the smallest proportion of income from wages at 3.9% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of self employment income at 20.9% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of investment and retirement income at 16.6% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of social security at 1.5% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart (Figure 7) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 30.3% which is the third most households with retirement income of all other counties in the greater Ferry County region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Pend Oreille County which depicts a households with retirement income of 32.5% (7.5% larger).

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 8. Ferry County shows full time employees approximately 4.0 times bigger as the part time employees.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 9 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. Ferry County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 30% for the self employed in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services category.

Figure 10 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ferry County shows it has the hightest cost of 110.0 for the cost of healthcare classification.

Ferry County Poverty Charts

In Figure 11 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Ferry County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 15.0% which is the second most percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the counties in the greater Ferry County region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Okanogan County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 20.1% (34.5% larger). Additionally, Figure 12 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) Ferry County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 18.7% which is the second most households with public assistance of all the counties in the greater Ferry County region. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Okanogan County which shows a households with public assistance of 19.1% ( only slightly larger).

Ferry County Labor Force Charts

The table in Figure 13, shows Ferry County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

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 January 2017 to before the COVID-19 Pandemic it went from 12.3% to 11.4% in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 7.3%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 10.7%. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 6.1%.

Ferry County Jobs Charts

In the jobs section of economic activity charts in Figure 15 shows the average annual earnings for very high level job industry categories for full time and year round employed.

Figure 16 shows the average median earnings for different categories of jobs.

Ferry County Work Commute Charts

Figure 18 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Ferry County or elsewhere.) Ferry County has the smallest proportion of people who drove alone at 63% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who carpooled at 16% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who took a taxicab, motorcycle or other at 1% of the total.

Figure 19 is provided for comparison purposes to the previous chart. It shows how people get to work overall on average in the United States.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 21. Ferry County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 25 which is in the mid point range of other counties in the local area.