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Tuesday, November 16, 2021  01:10 AM  (53)

Per capita personal income growth in the Pittsburgh region reaches new peak

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) compiles annual estimates of personal income for all counties and metropolitan areas in the United States. In November, the BEA released updated local area personal income estimates for 2020. Per Capita Personal Income (PCPI) for the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in 2020 is estimated to be $63,675, a 7.0% increase from an estimated $59,494 in 2019. Adjusted for inflation, real PCPI for the Pittsburgh MSA is estimated to have increased by 5.7% over the year.

Pittsburgh's 7.0% growth in PCPI between 2019 and 2020 ranks 13th among the 40 largest MSAs in the nation. However, when historical estimates are adjusted for inflation, the Pittsburgh region's 5.7% increase in real PCPI between 2019 and 2020 is the highest annual increase recorded by the BEA in data which extends back to 1969.

Across southwestern Pennsylvania, estimates of PCPI in 2020 range from a low of $44,472 in Indiana County to $68,777 in Allegheny County. Fayette County experienced the largest increase in PCPI between 2019 and 2020 (+1.3%), while Butler County experienced the smallest increase (+6.1%) over the year.

Change in Per Capita Personal Income

Southwestern Pennsylvania Counties, 2019-2020

Not adjusted for inflation. 

*Greene, Indiana and Lawrence counties are not part of the Pittsburgh MSA.

Personal income represents income that people get from wages, proprietors' income, dividends, interest, rents, and government benefits. A person's income is counted in the county where they live, even if they work elsewhere. Historical data for the Pittsburgh MSA represents the current seven-county definition of the MSA for all years. PCPI represents total personal income divided by population. BEA county and metropolitan area per capita personal income statistics are calculated using U.S. Census Bureau midyear population estimates. These annual midyear estimates are based on the 2010 census. Future revisions to these estimates will incorporate Census Bureau midyear population estimates based on the 2020 census results when they become available. Here, BEA estimates of PCPI for past years were adjusted to current (2020) dollars using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumer (CPI-U).

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