Wilkes-Barre city, PA

ZIP 18702 — Economy & Jobs

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Working ClassLow Snow Area

Income, employment, industries, and economic trends

Income & Economy in Wilkes-Barre city, PA (18702)

Median Income

$54,892

*Adjusted for inflation (2023 dollars)

IRS Net Migration

+1,918

Wealth inflow

Population

42,120

Unemployment

8.2%

4.5pp above US avg

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 1,918 for ZIP 18702 (Wilkes-Barre city, PA) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Economic Indicators

Unemployment

8.2%+122% vs US avg

Self-Employed

2.9%-52% vs US avg

SNAP Benefits

23.9%+104% vs US avg

1,142

Establishments

22,980

Employees

~20 per establishment — mix of small and larger employers

Healthcare

Top Industry

Economic Distributions

Census ACS 5-Year (P0): occupation, industry, household income brackets.

Occupation

Industry

Agriculture, forestry, mining0.2%
Construction5.0%
Manufacturing10.5%
Wholesale trade2.5%
Retail trade12.9%
Transportation, utilities10.5%
Information1.0%
Finance, insurance, real estate6.6%
Professional, scientific, management7.7%
Education, health care, social23.2%
Arts, entertainment, food services8.9%
Other services5.7%
Public administration5.3%

Household Income

Historical Trends in 18702 (2020–Present)

Since 2020, population grew 5.0%, median income fell 0.6% (inflation-adjusted), home values increased 9.2%.

Median Income

$54,892

-27% vs US avg

Unemployment Rate