Indians earn the most among Asian Americans: Data

Indian-headed households had the highest median annual income among all Asian groups
| Photo Credit: Reuters

With a median annual household income exceeding $150,000, Indian Americans top the earnings chart among all Asian groups in the U.S.— about 40% higher than both Chinese and Japanese households.

As of 2023, nearly 25 million Asians lived in the U.S.— more than double the number in 2000 (Chart 1).

Chart 1 | The chart shows the Asian American population in the U.S. Figures in millions

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By 2023, Asians made up 7.4% of the U.S. population, up from 4.2% in 2000 (Chart 2).

Chart 2 | The chart shows the share of Asians as part of the U.S. population. Figures in %

Among Asian groups, Chinese Americans formed the largest share at 22%, followed by Indians at 21% and Filipinos at 19%. Vietnamese, Koreans, and Japanese accounted for 9%, 8%, and 7%, respectively. Pakistanis made up 3% (Chart 3).

Chart 3 | The origin-wise share of Asian population of the U.S. as of 2023 (in %)

Over time, the share of immigrants within most Asian communities has declined. In 2000, immigrants made up 63% of the Asian population; by 2023, this had fallen to 54%. Among Indians, the share declined from 73% to 66% (Chart 4).

Chart 4 | The chart shows the share of immigrants across various Asian origin groups in the U.S. Figures in %

Educational attainment among Asian groups varied widely. In 2023, 77% of Indians aged 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher, the second highest among Asian groups.

Taiwanese Americans topped the list, with 83% holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Bhutanese, Burmese, Laotian, and Cambodian communities had the lowest rates (Chart 5).

Chart 5 | The chart shows the share of Asian Americans with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Figures in %

This education gap was reflected in income levels. Indian-headed households had the highest median annual income among all Asian groups at $151,200, followed by Taiwanese households.

Interestingly, despite 69% of Mongolian Americans holding a bachelor’s degree or higher — the third highest among all groups — their median household income was the lowest, at just $54,300.

Chart 6 | The chart shows the median income of Asian headed households across origin groups in 2023. Figures in $1,000s

Source: The data for the charts are sourced from Pew Research Centre’s “Key facts about Asians in the U.S.”