Section 5 Earnings
(1 tables in this section)This section presents statistics on earnings. The statistics describe the earnings of individuals with and without disabilities in the past 12 months, as well as the earnings gap between these two populations. The principal source of these data is the U.S. Census Bureau, specifically the American Community Survey.
Table 5.1 - Median Earnings of Civilians 16 Years and Over in the Past 12 Months for the United States and States, by Disability Status (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars): 2010
In 2010, for the individuals with disabilities ages 16 years and over living in the community that had earnings from work, median earnings were $19,500. In contrast, among individuals without disabilities ages 16 years and over living in the community that had earnings from work, median earnings were $29,997, a gap of $10,497. This gap is smallest (meaning the earnings of people with disabilities are closest to the earnings of people without disabilities) in Alaska ($4,857) and largest (meaning the earnings of people with disabilities are furthest from the earnings of people without disabilities) in the District of Columbia ($19,474).
American Community Survey (ACS)—The American Community Survey is a large, continuous demographic survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that will provide accurate and up-to-date profiles of America’s communities every year. Annual and multi-year estimates of population and housing data are generated for small areas, including tracts and population subgroups. This information is collected by mailing questionnaires to a sample of addresses.
Disability Status (ACS)—The U.S. Census Bureau used six questions to identify persons with disabilities. A response of “yes” to any one of the questions indicates that the person in question has a disability. However, the cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living related questions are not used to identify disability in individuals less than 5 years old, and the independent living related question is not used to identify disability in individuals less than 18 years old.
Earnings (ACS)—Regularly received income from salaries/wages, self-employment or both, for people 16 or more years old before deductions for personal income taxes, Social Security, bond purchases, union dues, Medicare deductions, etc.