The Persisting Racial Gap in Median Household Income in the United States

Census_Bureau_seal.svgThe United States Census Bureau recently released its annual report on income in the United States. The data shows that in 2012 the median income for Black households in the United States was $33,321. The median income figure is the “family in the middle.” Half of all Black households earn more than $33,321 and half earn less.

For non-Hispanic Whites, the median household income in 2012 was $57,009. Therefore, the median Black household income was only 58 percent of the median income of White households.

This significant racial gap in median household income in the United States has remained virtually unchanged for the past 40 years.

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