Harsh Goenka has explained why Indians are the highest-earning ethnic group in the USA. The chairman of RPG Enterprises shared a chart that shows Indian Americans having the highest median household income in the country. It also shows that 70% of the Indian-American population in America holds a bachelor's degree while the national average is merely 28%.
As per Goenka, Indians shine in America because Indians value good education and are the most educated ethnic group. At the same time, they work very hard along with being frugal in their habits and are in IT, engineering and medicine - the highest-paying jobs. Also, it’s because “We are smart”, he added.
While the data Goenka shared appear to be from a 2013-15 American Community Survey, more recent numbers from 2019 also indicate the same thing: Indians leading from front. Asian Americans, with a population of around 1.8 crore, are the highest-earning ethnic group in the USA. The median household income for Asian-Americans stands at $87,243.
However, Indians are the leading ethnic group among Asian-Americans. With a population of around 42 lakh, Indians have a median household income of $126,705 - much higher than the overall numbers of Asian-Americans. The Filipino community, with a population of around 29 lakh, has a median household income of $100,273. The Taiwanese community is not far behind with a median income of $100,205. The lowest-earning ethnic group among Asian-Americans is the Burmese community ($45,903).
Goenka’s Twitter post received encouraging comments. “Indians Mostly due to tech and doctors. Filipinos as well, doctors. So our international household in top two. Our kids 3 country trifecta. maybe even 4 or 5 since Spanish Filipino heritage and possibly British Indian (sic),” wrote one user.
One of the users had a different take on it. “Unlike middle class Indians, the Chinese no longer have the need to migrate to the west for better education or well paid jobs! They have some of the highest ranked universities in the world. Further, their most brilliant minds receive adequate support for research at home!” the user opined.
First Published:
15 Jan 2023, 07:37 AM IST
FAQs
As per Goenka, Indians shine in America because Indians value good education and are the most educated ethnic group. At the same time, they work very hard along with being frugal in their habits and are in IT, engineering and medicine - the highest-paying jobs. Also, it's because “We are smart”, he added.
What is the richest race? ›
By race and ethnicity
| Race and Ethnicity | Alone |
|---|
| Code | Median household income (US$) |
|---|
| Asian Americans | 012 | 100,573 |
| White | 002 | 74,932 |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 050 | 69,973 |
4 more rowsAsians have the highest median household income of all race and Hispanic origin groups.
Are Indians the highest earners in America? ›
As per the census report titled 'Median US Household Income By Selected Ethnic Groups, 2018', originally posted by social media platform X user 'The Rabbit Hole', Indians in America reported the highest median household income at $119,858, followed by Taiwanese at $95,736, and Chinese at $81,487.
What is the poorest ethnic group in us? ›
38% Black or African American. 43% Hispanic or Latino. 34% Middle Eastern. 40% Multiracial.
What is the average income of an Indian American? ›
And around half of Indian Americans live in just four states: California (20%), Texas (12%), New Jersey (9%) and New York (7%). The median income among Indian American households was $145,000 in 2022, meaning that half of households headed by an Indian American person earned more than that and half earned less.
What is the top earners in the US? ›
Top earners across the United States earn at least six figures, with an average income of over $160,000 for those in the top 10% in 2021. Earners in the top 1% must make $1 million per year in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington.
What is the top 2 ethnic groups? ›
White is the most common race in the United States. It refers to people from Europe. (such as Germany, England, Ireland, Italy, Spain) Black or African-American refers to people from most parts of Africa.
What is the most employed race in the United States? ›
(See tables 1, 2, 3, 5, and 5A.) Among adult men (20 years and older) in the largest race and ethnicity groups, Hispanics continued to have the highest employment-population ratio (74.6 percent).
What are the demographics of the United States by income? ›
The top 3.65%, with incomes over $200,000, earned 17.5%. Households with annual incomes from $50,000 to $75,000, 18.2% of households, earned 16.5% of all income. Households with annual incomes from $50,000 to $95,000, 28.1% of households, earned 28.8% of all income. The bottom 10.3% earned 1.06% of all income.
What percentage of Americans make over $75K? Only 12.3% of Americans make in the $75,000 to $99,999 range. An additional 16.4% make between $100,000 and $149,000. However, a large portion of Americans (16.2%) earn in the $50,000 to $74,999 range.
What are the top 3 ethnic groups in the US? ›
Racial categories
| 2021 estimates, including separate category for Latino / Hispanic |
|---|
| Self-identified race and ethnicity | Percent of population |
| White | 59.3% |
| Hispanic and Latino | 18.9% |
| Black | 12.6% |
5 more rows