The Distribution of Household Income in US, 2015 – Average of $20,000 for the lowest quintile and $292,000 for the highest quintile

In 2015, household income was unevenly distributed: Households at the top of the income distribution received significantly more income than households at the bottom of the distribution.

In 2015, average household income before accounting for means-tested transfers and federal taxes was $20,000 for the lowest quintile and $292,000 for the highest quintile. After transfers and taxes, those averages were $33,000 and $215,000.

Before accounting for the effects of means-tested transfers and federal taxes:

• Within the highest quintile, income was highly skewed toward the very top of the distribution:
  • Among households in the bottom half of the highest quintile (the 81st to 90th percentiles), average income was $157,000; among the 1.2 million households in the top 1 percent of the distribution, it was $1.9 million.
  • The combined effect of means-tested transfers and federal taxes in 2015 was, on average, to increase income at the bottom of the income distribution and decrease income at the top of the distribution.
• After accounting for the effects of means-tested transfers and federal taxes:
  • Average income among households in the lowest quintile of the income distribution was about $33,000.
  • Average income among households in the highest quintile was about $215,000.
  • Among households in the bottom half of the highest quintile, average income was $125,000; among households in the top 1 percent, it was $1.2 million.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at The Distribution of Household Income, 2015 | Congressional Budget Office