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WISCONSIN
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Wisconsin:

The data below describe the state rankings and selected characteristics of the immigrant and native-born populations in Wisconsin in 2011.

Rankings
The following shows Wisconsin's rankings in several categories. All rankings include the 50 states and the District of Columbia and are ranked highest to lowest.
  Rankings
Number of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 28 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 39 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 34 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 40 out of 51

Data Highlights
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Who are the foreign born?
The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the census who were not US citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent immigrants, refugees and asylees, legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. By comparison, the term native refers to people residing in the United States who were US citizens in one of three categories: 1) people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; 2) people born in United States Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or 3) people who were born abroad to at least one US citizen parent.

We use the terms immigrants and foreign born interchangeably.

Earnings of Full-Time Workers
(This sheet describes earnings of civilian employed workers)

In Wisconsin in 2011, 36.7 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 27.1 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Wisconsin in 2011, 8.2 percent of full-time, year-round, immigrant workers (those working more than 50 weeks a year and more than 35 hours per week) earned less than $15,000 a year; 47.4 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 17.3 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 27.1 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 5.4 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 31.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 23.8 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 38.8 percent earned $50,000 or more.

At the national level, 9.8 percent of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 40.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 16.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 32.6 percent earned $50,000 or more.

Median Earnings by Nativity and Gender

Male immigrant workers had average annual earnings of $32,431 compared to $29,945 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Wisconsin in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $29,945 for women and $32,431 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $25,853 and those of noncitizen men were $27,889. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $31,941 and naturalized-citizen men $41,579. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $36,185 for women and $46,918 for men.

At the national level, median earnings of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers were $31,749 for women and $35,918 for men. The median earnings for noncitizen workers were $24,347 for women and $28,507 for men. Among naturalized-citizen workers, women had median earnings of $38,419 and men of $47,547. Among native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $38,044 for women and $50,056 for men.

What Was the Poverty Threshold in 2011?
Whether any family is considered below the poverty threshold depends on the family's total income before taxes, not including any capital gains or noncash benefits, such as food stamps or housing subsidies.

The Census Bureau's poverty threshold varies depending on the number of adults and children in a family. The threshold is adjusted each month to account for inflation. Because respondents filled out the American Community Survey in different months, the poverty threshold that is applied to each family depends on the month in which the survey was taken.

To give a general idea of poverty levels, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2011 was $23,021; for a family of three, $17,916; for a family of two, $ 14,657; and for an unrelated individual, $11,484. All members of a family are assigned the same poverty status. Poverty thresholds are the same for the entire United States, despite differences in the cost of living across US communities.
Population in Poverty

The immigrant population in Wisconsin living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 45.7 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 32,048 to 46,702, representing a change of 45.7 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 24,627 to 32,048 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 30.1 percent.

At the national level, the immigrant population below the poverty threshold increased from 3,435,394 to 5,473,300 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 59.3 percent, and grew from 5,473,300 to 7,797,199 (42.5 percent) between 2000 and 2011.

In 2011, 17.7 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 17.7 percent of Wisconsin's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 17.1 percent in 2000 and 22.2 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 12.8 percent of the native-born population in Wisconsin lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

At the national level, 19.6 percent of the immigrants population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011, compared to 17.7 percent in 2000 and 17.9 percent in 1990. Nationally, 15.4 percent of the native-born population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

In Wisconsin, 23.1 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 10.9 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Wisconsin in 2011, 23.1 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 10.9 percent of naturalized citizens.

Nationally, 26.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 11.5 percent of naturalized citizens.

Families with Children in Poverty

In Wisconsin, 15.8 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 15.8 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 20.4 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than families consisting of a female and children under 18 with no husband present (14.4 versus 39.9 percent).

In comparison, 8.4 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 14.8 percent of native families with children under 18. As with foreign-born families, native families consisting of a married couple with children under 18 were less likely to be living in poverty than families headed by a female and children under 18 with no husband present (4.9 versus 39.3 percent).

At the national level, 18.5 percent of families headed by a foreign-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold in 2011, while 24.6 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than foreign-born families consisting of a female and children under 18 (17.9 versus 45.2 percent).

Language Groupings

Indo-European languages include French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Yiddish, other West Germanic languages, Scandinavian languages, Greek, Russian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, other Slavic languages, Armenian, Persian, Gujarathi, Hindi, and Urdu.

Asian and Pacific Island languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mon-Khmer/Cambodian, Miao/Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Other languages include Navajo, other Native North American languages, Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, and African languages.

Population in Poverty by Language Spoken at Home

In Wisconsin, 24.4 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 16.9 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 16.8 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Wisconsin in 2011, 11.7 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 24.4 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 16.8 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 16.9 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 24.2 percent who spoke other languages.

Nationally, 13.6 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 25.4 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 13.7 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 14.2 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 26.7 percent who spoke other languages.




Table 1. Population by Poverty Status in Wisconsin, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Wisconsin for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 4,747,601 100.0 5,225,163 100.0 5,554,349 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 497,027 10.5 457,923 8.8 725,797 13.1
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 382,565 8.1 346,178 6.6 490,986 8.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 3,868,009 81.5 4,421,062 84.6 4,337,566 78.1
Native Born 4,636,479 100.0 5,037,963 100.0 5,290,255 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 472,400 10.2 425,875 8.5 679,095 12.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 369,872 8.0 322,649 6.4 452,449 8.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 3,794,207 81.8 4,289,439 85.1 4,158,711 78.6
Foreign Born 111,122 100.0 187,200 100.0 264,094 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 24,627 22.2 32,048 17.1 46,702 17.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 12,693 11.4 23,529 12.6 38,537 14.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 73,802 66.4 131,623 70.3 178,855 67.7
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Wisconsin for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 477,562 10.1 806,748 17.0 329,186 6.3
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -39,104 -7.9 228,770 46.0 267,874 58.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -36,387 -9.5 108,421 28.3 144,808 41.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 553,053 14.3 469,557 12.1 -83,496 -1.9
Native Born 401,484 8.7 653,776 14.1 252,292 5.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -46,525 -9.8 206,695 43.8 253,220 59.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -47,223 -12.8 82,577 22.3 129,800 40.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 495,232 13.1 364,504 9.6 -130,728 -3.0
Foreign Born 76,078 68.5 152,972 137.7 76,894 41.1
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 7,421 30.1 22,075 89.6 14,654 45.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 10,836 85.4 25,844 203.6 15,008 63.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 57,821 78.3 105,053 142.3 47,232 35.9
Notes: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing. 2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.
Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), various years (see Note 2 above); 2000 Decennial Census; Steven Ruggles, J. Trent Alexander, Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Matthew B. Schroeder, and Matthew Sobek. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 5.0 [Machine-readable database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2011.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 2. Income and Poverty Characteristics of the Population in Wisconsin, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Wisconsin for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 5,554,349
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.1
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 18.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 68.9
Native Born 5,290,255
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 12.8
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 17.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 69.6
Foreign Born 264,094
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 17.7
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 27.6
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 54.7
Noncitizen 146,518
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 23.1
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 31.1
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 45.8
Naturalized Citizen 117,576
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 10.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 23.2
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 65.8
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Wisconsin Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 1,871,498
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.3
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 14.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.6
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 23.1
Earned $75,000 or more 15.0
Native Born 1,762,985
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 13.4
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.5
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 23.8
Earned $75,000 or more 15
Foreign Born 108,513
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 28.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 17.3
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 11.7
Earned $75,000 or more 15.4
Noncitizen 60,045
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.9
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 6.8
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 34.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 17.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 15.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 8.5
Earned $75,000 or more 13.2
Naturalized Citizen 48,468
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 21.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.1
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 15.6
Earned $75,000 or more 18.2
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Wisconsin, 2011  
Male $46,214
Female $35,890
Native Born  
Male $46,918
Female $36,185
Foreign Born  
Male $32,431
Female $29,945
Noncitizen  
Male $27,889
Female $25,853
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $41,579
Female $31,941
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 8.8
With related children under age 18 15.3
With related children under age 5 only 18.6
Married-couple families 3.6
With related children under age 18 5.7
With related children under age 5 only 5.5
Families with female householder, no husband present 31.0
With related children under age 18 39.3
With related children under age 5 only 51.5
Native-Born Families 8.4
With related children under age 18 14.8
With related children under age 5 only 18.1
Married-couple families 3.1
With related children under age 18 4.9
With related children under age 5 only 4.1
Families with female householder, no husband present 30.9
With related children under age 18 39.3
With related children under age 5 only 52.2
Foreign-Born Families 15.8
With related children under age 18 20.4
With related children under age 5 only 24.2
Married-couple families 11.2
With related children under age 18 14.4
With related children under age 5 only 22.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 33.1
With related children under age 18 39.9
With related children under age 5 only 33.9
Noncitizen 22.7
With related children under age 18 27.4
With related children under age 5 only 23.6
Married-couple families 16.2
With related children under age 18 19.7
With related children under age 5 only 20.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 44.9
With related children under age 18 50.5
With related children under age 5 only 34.4
Naturalized Citizen 8.9
With related children under age 18 11.3
With related children under age 5 only 25.5
Married-couple families 6.8
With related children under age 18 8.0
With related children under age 5 only 26.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 20.6
With related children under age 18 25.4
With related children under 5 age only 32.2
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Wisconsin, 2011  
Male $32,431
Female $29,945
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $27,307
Female $23,917
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $31,489
Female $29,272
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $41,569
Female $32,190
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 85,413
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 17
Born in Europe 48,952
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 9.7
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 104,589
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21.2
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Oceania N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Note: 1. Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), different years.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 3. Poverty Status of Residents in Wisconsin by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Wisconsin for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 5,212,724 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 651,310 12.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 4,561,414 87.5
Speaks Only English 4,756,960 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 555,620 11.7
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 4,201,340 88.3
Speaks Spanish 230,534 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 56,205 24.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 174,329 75.6
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 123,385 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 20,756 16.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 102,629 83.2
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 81,021 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13,687 16.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 67,334 83.1
Speaks Other Languages 20,824 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 5,042 24.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 15,782 75.8
Note: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under the age of 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey.
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

For data on these topics, click on the link: