HOW HOUSEHOLD INCOME VARIES AMONG RELIGIOUS GROUPS

[Guest Nicole]

NEW STUDY SHOWS THE AVERAGE U.S. HOUSEHOLD INCOME LEVELS CLASSIFIED BY FAITH. A new study has revealed the average household income of various religious groups, and the gap between the highest and lowest is enormous.

Almost half (44 percent) of Jews live in a household where the annual income is over $100,000, as do more than a third (36 percent) of Hindus. In contrast, the National Baptist Convention and Jehovah’s Witnesses are the worst off, with nearly half of both groups living on an annual household income of less than $30,000, and only 4 percent of Jehovah’s Witnesses earning more than $100,000. To put these figures in perspective, around 35 percent of U.S. adults have an annual household income of under $30,000, and 19 percent over $100,000. These statistics are roughly the same as Catholics and Muslims, meaning these are the groups that best represent the average American when income is concerned. Around 20 percent of Americans identify as Catholic, are in the top income bracket and mirrors the nation.

However, there is more to these results than meets the eye. The groups with the highest average household income, Jews, Episcopalians, Hindus, and Presbyterians, are also on average the best educated, meaning they will naturally have a better chance of financial success. The results also suggest that religion may not have that much of an effect on wealth, as atheists and agnostics ranked highly on the list. Christian denominations make up most the list, but various Baptist and Adventist groups make up much of the lower end. 

http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/christianity/how-household-income-varies-among-religious-groups