Income & Economy

Discover the economic profile of Rusk County through income, employment, industry, and business data. Explore workforce characteristics, major employment sectors, earnings, business activity, and economic trends that help businesses, site selectors, developers, and community leaders understand the strength and potential of the county's economy.

Economic Snapshot

A quick overview of key economic indicators highlighting household income, workforce participation, and employment across Rusk County.

$59,944

Median Household Income

The midpoint household income across all households in Rusk County.

$76,292

Median Family Income

Median income among family households, reflecting earning potential for working families.

$33,309

Per Capita Income

Average income earned per resident across the county.

55.6%

Labor Force Participation

Residents aged 16 and older who are working or actively seeking employment.

52.6%

Employment Rate

Residents age 16 and over currently employed.

5.4%

Unemployment Rate

Percentage of the civilian labor force actively seeking employment.

Household Income Distribution

Household income distribution provides insight into the purchasing power and economic diversity of Rusk County residents. While the county has a broad range of household incomes, the largest concentration falls between $50,000 and $149,999 annually.

Income Range

Households

Less than $10,000

3.1%

199

$10,000 – $14,999

5.3%

335

$15,000 – $24,999

9.6%

613

$25,000 – $34,999

8.9%

563

$35,000 – $49,999

13.0%

829

$50,000 – $74,999

19.9%

1,267

$75,000 – $99,999

15.2%

967

$100,000 – $149,999

15.5%

987

$150,000 – $199,999

6.5%

410

$200,000+

2.9%

185

Income Comparison

Comparing household income across Rusk County, Wisconsin, and the United States provides context for local purchasing power, workforce wages, and overall economic competitiveness.

Rusk County

Median Household Income

$59,944

Mean Household Income

$73,376

Per Capita Income

$33,309

Median Family Income

$76,292

Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$84,665

Mean Household Income

$109,356

Per Capita Income

$45,248

Median Family Income

$104,167

United States

Median Household Income

$81,604

Mean Household Income

$114,296

Per Capita Income

$43,289

Median Family Income

$101,265

Business Establishments & Payroll Trends

Business establishment counts, annual payroll, and employment trends illustrate the overall health of Rusk County's economy and provide insight into long-term business growth and investment.

Year	Business Establishments	Annual Payroll	Average Employment
2019	312	$143,557,000	3,934
2020	304	$147,011,000	4,084
2021	315	$150,139,000	3,713
2022	316	$166,232,000	3,984

316

Businesses (2022)

$166.2M

Total Annual Payroll

3,984

Average Employment

+15.8%

Payroll Growth (2019–2022)

Economic Well-Being

Economic well-being reflects the financial health of Rusk County residents through measures of household income, poverty, public assistance, and overall economic stability. These indicators provide insight into community prosperity and quality of life.

$59,944

Median Household Income

$33,309

Per Capita Income

13.1%

Population Below Poverty

16.2%

Households Receiving SNAP

Indicator	Value
Median Household Income	$59,944
Per Capita Income	$33,309
Population Below Poverty	13.1%
Families Below Poverty	9.5%
Children Under 18 Below Poverty	20.6%
Households Receiving SNAP Benefits	16.2%
Median Nonfamily Income	$36,099
Median Family Income	$76,292

```

Data Sources

The information presented on this page is compiled from official federal datasets published by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns program. These sources provide the most current and reliable information available for workforce, income, business, and economic indicators in Rusk County.

Employment Status, Occupation, Industry & Commuting

Employment characteristics, labor force participation, commuting patterns, occupations, industries, class of worker, and related workforce statistics were obtained from the American Community Survey.

DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics

Occupation by Sex

Occupation classifications by gender were sourced from the American Community Survey Occupation by Sex table.

S2401: Occupation by Sex for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over

Income & Household Earnings

Median household income, family income, per capita income, household income distribution, earnings, retirement income, and related income statistics were sourced from the American Community Survey Income table.

S1901: Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)

Poverty & Economic Well-Being

Poverty rates, family poverty, child poverty, and other economic well-being indicators were obtained from the American Community Survey Poverty Status table.

S1701: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months

Business Establishments & Payroll Trends

Business establishment counts, annual payroll, average annual pay, employment, and industry establishment trends were sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns (CBP) program using annual business data from 2019–2022.

County Business Patterns (CBP)