Median household income of farm business households and U.S. households with self-employment income, 1998–2023

Dollars (2023)

Line chart with 26 groups, 2 lines per group.

Group 1, 1998.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 88599.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 54334.
Group 2, 1999.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 91003.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 59969.
Group 3, 2000.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 94667.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 57557.
Group 4, 2001.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 92956.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 51518.
Group 5, 2002.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 92254.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 64430.
Group 6, 2003.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 92812.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 61687.
Group 7, 2004.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 91035.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 63576.
Group 8, 2005.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 93377.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 70531.
Group 9, 2006.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 96196.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 69993.
Group 10, 2007.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 97628.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 63572.
Group 11, 2008.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 91887.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 58473.
Group 12, 2009.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 88140.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 58340.
Group 13, 2010.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 90920.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 62128.
Group 14, 2011.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 89260.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 65011.
Group 15, 2012.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 89656.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 72546.
Group 16, 2013.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 90369.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 77450.
Group 17, 2014.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 89325.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 91437.
Group 18, 2015.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 96027.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 78471.
Group 19, 2016.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 95624.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 78293.
Group 20, 2017.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 102429.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 75898.
Group 21, 2018.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 102017.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 66421.
Group 22, 2019.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 105643.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 70602.
Group 23, 2020.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 103047.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 71957.
Group 24, 2021.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 106999.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 83634.
Group 25, 2022.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 101548.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 84808.
Group 26, 2023.
Line 1, Median U.S. household income for those with self-employment income (including from farming) 104949.
Line 2, Median household income for those operating a farm business 70902.

Note: Farm businesses are defined as farms with gross cash farm income of at least $350,000 in 2023 dollars, or farms where the principal operator lists farming as the primary occupation. Household income is estimated only for households operating family farms. Changes to U.S. median income among households with self-employment income from 2013 and forward reflect changes in data collection and processing of the March supplement of the Current Population Survey as well as changes in actual household income.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service and USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Resource Management Survey; and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey. Values are adjusted for inflation to 2023 dollars using the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index (BEA Table 2.8.4 line 1). Data as of December 3, 2024.