Eau Claire: Economy & Jobs
Eau Claire's typical household earns $67,395 (1.1× below Eau Claire County median $74,546; 1.1× below Wisconsin median $77,485), with homes at a median value of $247,600. The surrounding county supports 26,613 jobs (avg $53,189).
- $71,869 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Wisconsin $74,990).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $67,395 — below the Wisconsin median ($73,427). Poverty rate 14.3% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 32% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.7× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 17.3% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 32.5% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 14.3% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 5.3% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $32,810 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $2,358,011 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $71,869 (vs Wisconsin $74,990) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $74,489 |
| Median Household Income | $67,395 (vs Wisconsin $73,427) |
| Poverty Rate | 14.3% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $67,395 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.3% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 12% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 16.70 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 12.4% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 26,613 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $1,415,508,639 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $53,189 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,885,990 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% (vs Wisconsin 2.2%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 44 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 313,131 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 7,116.60 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Crop Totals, Milk, Grain, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,659 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 22,938 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 1,199,379 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 7 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 33 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 10 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 9 |
| Local Businesses · Florists | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 57 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 33 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 53 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 10 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (17)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Kwik Trip 633 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 58 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | GREATER EAU CLAIRE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $452,171,993 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,820.40 (vs Wisconsin $6,238) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 66,297 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 2 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 75.7% |
| Pct Public Transit | 3.1% |
| Pct Walked | 12.4% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 32.9 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 30.0% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 2 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12