Counties in North Carolina by personal income

Wake County had the highest personal income of 100 counties in 2023, at $97.97 billion. Tyrrell County had the lowest, at $161.8 million. The median was $2.85 billion and the figure for North Carolina was $673.54 billion. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest97,971.7Wake County
Lowest161.8Tyrrell County
Median2,852.2100 counties
North Carolina673,539.8History

Map of counties, 2023

Alamance County: 9,291 USD millionAlexander County: 1,833.9 USD millionAlleghany County: 544.7 USD millionAnson County: 1,138 USD millionAshe County: 1,307.6 USD millionAvery County: 906.7 USD millionBeaufort County: 2,581.1 USD millionBertie County: 847.4 USD millionBladen County: 1,517.4 USD millionBrunswick County: 9,914.9 USD millionBuncombe County: 18,482.9 USD millionBurke County: 4,242.4 USD millionCabarrus County: 14,016.3 USD millionCaldwell County: 3,848.4 USD millionCamden County: 659.3 USD millionCarteret County: 4,857.9 USD millionCaswell County: 1,008.8 USD millionCatawba County: 9,485.3 USD millionChatham County: 7,161.6 USD millionCherokee County: 1,279.7 USD millionChowan County: 762.7 USD millionClay County: 568.1 USD millionCleveland County: 4,912.6 USD millionColumbus County: 2,308.8 USD millionCraven County: 5,971.8 USD millionCumberland County: 16,601.6 USD millionCurrituck County: 1,959.3 USD millionDare County: 2,998.1 USD millionDavidson County: 9,014.3 USD millionDavie County: 2,869.7 USD millionDuplin County: 2,726.2 USD millionDurham County: 22,109.9 USD millionEdgecombe County: 2,308.9 USD millionForsyth County: 23,974.7 USD millionFranklin County: 3,810.7 USD millionGaston County: 12,572.1 USD millionGates County: 548.1 USD millionGraham County: 361.5 USD millionGranville County: 3,170.4 USD millionGreene County: 826.7 USD millionGuilford County: 33,369.9 USD millionHalifax County: 2,239.4 USD millionHarnett County: 6,774.8 USD millionHaywood County: 3,437.9 USD millionHenderson County: 7,207.3 USD millionHertford County: 901.5 USD millionHoke County: 2,365.5 USD millionHyde County: 247.8 USD millionIredell County: 13,465.6 USD millionJackson County: 2,108.2 USD millionJohnston County: 12,730.5 USD millionJones County: 473.2 USD millionLee County: 3,653.7 USD millionLenoir County: 2,956.8 USD millionLincoln County: 5,897.9 USD millionMcDowell County: 2,129.5 USD millionMacon County: 2,071.7 USD millionMadison County: 1,058.8 USD millionMartin County: 956.3 USD millionMecklenburg County: 97,002.3 USD millionMitchell County: 724.2 USD millionMontgomery County: 1,243.3 USD millionMoore County: 7,335.9 USD millionNash County: 5,128.9 USD millionNew Hanover County: 15,930.8 USD millionNorthampton County: 833.8 USD millionOnslow County: 11,410.5 USD millionOrange County: 12,662.3 USD millionPamlico County: 710.8 USD millionPasquotank County: 2,100.6 USD millionPender County: 3,668.6 USD millionPerquimans County: 752.6 USD millionPerson County: 1,990 USD millionPitt County: 9,862.8 USD millionPolk County: 1,374.4 USD millionRandolph County: 7,252.1 USD millionRichmond County: 2,019.7 USD millionRobeson County: 5,167 USD millionRockingham County: 4,474.1 USD millionRowan County: 7,465.4 USD millionRutherford County: 2,906.8 USD millionSampson County: 2,834.6 USD millionScotland County: 1,500.1 USD millionStanly County: 3,381.4 USD millionStokes County: 2,246.8 USD millionSurry County: 3,659 USD millionSwain County: 774.5 USD millionTransylvania County: 2,073 USD millionTyrrell County: 161.8 USD millionUnion County: 18,819.3 USD millionVance County: 1,977.6 USD millionWake County: 97,971.7 USD millionWarren County: 735.3 USD millionWashington County: 520.6 USD millionWatauga County: 2,944.7 USD millionWayne County: 6,017.1 USD millionWilkes County: 3,274.9 USD millionWilson County: 4,120.5 USD millionYadkin County: 1,915.6 USD millionYancey County: 876.8 USD million
  • Under 800
  • 800 to 2,000
  • 2,000 to 2,900
  • 2,900 to 4,500
  • 4,500 to 9,700
  • 9,700 and over
USD million, 2023. Source: BEA, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Wake County: 97,971.7 USD millionWake County97,971.7Mecklenburg County: 97,002.3 USD millionMecklenburg County97,002.3Guilford County: 33,369.9 USD millionGuilford County33,369.9Forsyth County: 23,974.7 USD millionForsyth County23,974.7Durham County: 22,109.9 USD millionDurham County22,109.9Union County: 18,819.3 USD millionUnion County18,819.3Buncombe County: 18,482.9 USD millionBuncombe County18,482.9Cumberland County: 16,601.6 USD millionCumberland County16,601.6New Hanover County: 15,930.8 USD millionNew Hanover County15,930.8Cabarrus County: 14,016.3 USD millionCabarrus County14,016.3Iredell County: 13,465.6 USD millionIredell County13,465.6Johnston County: 12,730.5 USD millionJohnston County12,730.5Orange County: 12,662.3 USD millionOrange County12,662.3Gaston County: 12,572.1 USD millionGaston County12,572.1Onslow County: 11,410.5 USD millionOnslow County11,410.5Brunswick County: 9,914.9 USD millionBrunswick County9,914.9Pitt County: 9,862.8 USD millionPitt County9,862.8Catawba County: 9,485.3 USD millionCatawba County9,485.3Alamance County: 9,291 USD millionAlamance County9,291Davidson County: 9,014.3 USD millionDavidson County9,014.3Rowan County: 7,465.4 USD millionRowan County7,465.4Moore County: 7,335.9 USD millionMoore County7,335.9Randolph County: 7,252.1 USD millionRandolph County7,252.1Henderson County: 7,207.3 USD millionHenderson County7,207.3Chatham County: 7,161.6 USD millionChatham County7,161.6Harnett County: 6,774.8 USD millionHarnett County6,774.8Wayne County: 6,017.1 USD millionWayne County6,017.1Craven County: 5,971.8 USD millionCraven County5,971.8Lincoln County: 5,897.9 USD millionLincoln County5,897.9Robeson County: 5,167 USD millionRobeson County5,167Nash County: 5,128.9 USD millionNash County5,128.9Cleveland County: 4,912.6 USD millionCleveland County4,912.6Carteret County: 4,857.9 USD millionCarteret County4,857.9Rockingham County: 4,474.1 USD millionRockingham County4,474.1Burke County: 4,242.4 USD millionBurke County4,242.4Wilson County: 4,120.5 USD millionWilson County4,120.5Caldwell County: 3,848.4 USD millionCaldwell County3,848.4Franklin County: 3,810.7 USD millionFranklin County3,810.7Pender County: 3,668.6 USD millionPender County3,668.6Surry County: 3,659 USD millionSurry County3,659Wake County: 97,971.7 USD millionWake County97,971.7Mecklenburg County: 97,002.3 USD millionMecklenburg County97,002.3Guilford County: 33,369.9 USD millionGuilford County33,369.9Forsyth County: 23,974.7 USD millionForsyth County23,974.7Durham County: 22,109.9 USD millionDurham County22,109.9Union County: 18,819.3 USD millionUnion County18,819.3Buncombe County: 18,482.9 USD millionBuncombe County18,482.9Cumberland County: 16,601.6 USD millionCumberland County16,601.6New Hanover County: 15,930.8 USD millionNew Hanover County15,930.8Cabarrus County: 14,016.3 USD millionCabarrus County14,016.3Iredell County: 13,465.6 USD millionIredell County13,465.6Johnston County: 12,730.5 USD millionJohnston County12,730.5Orange County: 12,662.3 USD millionOrange County12,662.3Gaston County: 12,572.1 USD millionGaston County12,572.1Onslow County: 11,410.5 USD millionOnslow County11,410.5Brunswick County: 9,914.9 USD millionBrunswick County9,914.9Pitt County: 9,862.8 USD millionPitt County9,862.8Catawba County: 9,485.3 USD millionCatawba County9,485.3Alamance County: 9,291 USD millionAlamance County9,291Davidson County: 9,014.3 USD millionDavidson County9,014.3Rowan County: 7,465.4 USD millionRowan County7,465.4Moore County: 7,335.9 USD millionMoore County7,335.9Randolph County: 7,252.1 USD millionRandolph County7,252.1Henderson County: 7,207.3 USD millionHenderson County7,207.3Chatham County: 7,161.6 USD millionChatham County7,161.6Harnett County: 6,774.8 USD millionHarnett County6,774.8Wayne County: 6,017.1 USD millionWayne County6,017.1Craven County: 5,971.8 USD millionCraven County5,971.8Lincoln County: 5,897.9 USD millionLincoln County5,897.9Robeson County: 5,167 USD millionRobeson County5,167Nash County: 5,128.9 USD millionNash County5,128.9Cleveland County: 4,912.6 USD millionCleveland County4,912.6Carteret County: 4,857.9 USD millionCarteret County4,857.9Rockingham County: 4,474.1 USD millionRockingham County4,474.1Burke County: 4,242.4 USD millionBurke County4,242.4Wilson County: 4,120.5 USD millionWilson County4,120.5Caldwell County: 3,848.4 USD millionCaldwell County3,848.4Franklin County: 3,810.7 USD millionFranklin County3,810.7Pender County: 3,668.6 USD millionPender County3,668.6Surry County: 3,659 USD millionSurry County3,659
USD million. Source: BEA, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023
USD million
Change on 2022
1Wake County97,971.7+7.7%
2Mecklenburg County97,002.3+7.4%
3Guilford County33,369.9+7.3%
4Forsyth County23,974.7+5.8%
5Durham County22,109.9+8%
6Union County18,819.3+8.1%
7Buncombe County18,482.9+8.4%
8Cumberland County16,601.6+5.9%
9New Hanover County15,930.8+9.1%
10Cabarrus County14,016.3+7.5%
11Iredell County13,465.6+7.9%
12Johnston County12,730.5+7.8%
13Orange County12,662.3+7.8%
14Gaston County12,572.1+6.9%
15Onslow County11,410.5+5.6%
16Brunswick County9,914.9+10.4%
17Pitt County9,862.8+5.2%
18Catawba County9,485.3+5.1%
19Alamance County9,291+6.3%
20Davidson County9,014.3+5.4%
21Rowan County7,465.4+6.4%
22Moore County7,335.9+7%
23Randolph County7,252.1+4.4%
24Henderson County7,207.3+9.4%
25Chatham County7,161.6+9%
26Harnett County6,774.8+6.9%
27Wayne County6,017.1+4.1%
28Craven County5,971.8+7.8%
29Lincoln County5,897.9+8.1%
30Robeson County5,167+4.3%
31Nash County5,128.9+5.7%
32Cleveland County4,912.6+6.4%
33Carteret County4,857.9+8.9%
34Rockingham County4,474.1+4.9%
35Burke County4,242.4+5.5%
36Wilson County4,120.5+6.1%
37Caldwell County3,848.4+4.8%
38Franklin County3,810.7+8.5%
39Pender County3,668.6+9%
40Surry County3,659+3%
41Lee County3,653.7+9.3%
42Haywood County3,437.9+7.9%
43Stanly County3,381.4+8.4%
44Wilkes County3,274.9+1.1%
45Granville County3,170.4+6.9%
46Dare County2,998.1+6.4%
47Lenoir County2,956.8+4.5%
48Watauga County2,944.7+8.1%
49Rutherford County2,906.8+5%
50Davie County2,869.7+6.9%
51Sampson County2,834.6-0.5%
52Duplin County2,726.2-0%
53Beaufort County2,581.1+6.4%
54Hoke County2,365.5+5.4%
55Edgecombe County2,308.9+6.9%
56Columbus County2,308.8+3.9%
57Stokes County2,246.8+5.6%
58Halifax County2,239.4+4.4%
59McDowell County2,129.5+5.3%
60Jackson County2,108.2+7.3%
61Pasquotank County2,100.6+6.7%
62Transylvania County2,073+9.3%
63Macon County2,071.7+9.9%
64Richmond County2,019.7+2.7%
65Person County1,990+7.9%
66Vance County1,977.6+6.7%
67Currituck County1,959.3+8.6%
68Yadkin County1,915.6+4.9%
69Alexander County1,833.9+3.1%
70Bladen County1,517.4+3.9%
71Scotland County1,500.1+4.3%
72Polk County1,374.4+9.2%
73Ashe County1,307.6+9.2%
74Cherokee County1,279.7+8.3%
75Montgomery County1,243.3+2.5%
76Anson County1,138+0.6%
77Madison County1,058.8+7.5%
78Caswell County1,008.8+7.7%
79Martin County956.3+4.7%
80Avery County906.7+9.7%
81Hertford County901.5+3.4%
82Yancey County876.8+8.2%
83Bertie County847.4-0.2%
84Northampton County833.8+2.6%
85Greene County826.7+2.1%
86Swain County774.5+5.8%
87Chowan County762.7+7%
88Perquimans County752.6+6.3%
89Warren County735.3+4.6%
90Mitchell County724.2+8.4%
91Pamlico County710.8+8.3%
92Camden County659.3+6.7%
93Clay County568.1+9%
94Gates County548.1+3.8%
95Alleghany County544.7+8.6%
96Washington County520.6+5.3%
97Jones County473.2+1.5%
98Graham County361.5+8.8%
99Hyde County247.8+8.8%
100Tyrrell County161.8+8.7%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total income received by the residents of a place from work, own businesses, property and government benefits, before income taxes, in millions of current US dollars. United States: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional accounts, table SAINC1 line 1 for the nation and states and CAINC1 line 1 for counties.

Counted where people live, not where they work. The national figure is the total of the states, which differs slightly from personal income in the national accounts. Divided by BEA population it gives per_capita_personal_income.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026). CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents (Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip

MLA 9

CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2023. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 5 Feb. 2026, https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2026. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2026) CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_north_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis}},
  title = {{CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
TI  - CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/05
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest personal income?

Wake County, with $97.97 billion in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which county has the lowest personal income?

Tyrrell County, with $161.8 million in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Personal income: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings