Indian Americans are one of wealthiest and best educated communities in the United States. With a median household income of $60,093, compared with $41,110 for non-Hispanic white families, there are few groups that have comparable income levels.

It is important that Indian Americans not assume that all Indian Americans are doing well economically. The relatively high numbers mask growing poverty, especially among the elderly and female-headed households.

Mean Wage & Salary
The discrepancy between mean income and median household income is partially explained by the fact that Indian American households have a high proportion of dual and triple income homes. In fact, close to 20% of Indian American households have three or more workers.

Educational Attainment
More than 67% of foreign-born Indian Americans hold advanced degrees. Among their American-born counterparts, 21% aged 25 and older hold post-bachelor's degree accreditation.

Occupational Distribution
Among Indian Americans in the workforce in 1990, 30% were employed in professional specialty occupations, compared with 13% for all U.S. employees.

Poverty Statistics
Poverty is a growing, and often ignored, problem in the Indian American community, especially for those immigrants over the age of 65 and female-headed households.

This problem has been exacerbated by the welfare reform laws passed in 1996, which punished immigrants.