See where proprietors’ income grew as a share of total state personal income from 2010 to 2023—ranked by change in percentage points using BEA Regional data. Understand how business-owner income weight in the state economy shifted before you choose where to register.
Methodology
We measure proprietors’ income (BEA Regional: SAINC4, LineCode 70; millions of dollars) as a share of total personal income (CAINC1, LineCode 1; thousands of dollars) for 2010 and 2023, by state. Here, income gap means the change in that share in percentage points from 2010 to 2023 (2023 share minus 2010 share). This is not the same as Census/ACS “self-employment rate,” and it includes partner income and other components BEA classifies as proprietors’ income. Figures use current-dollar series; BEA revises regional estimates. State names may include BEA footnote markers (for example *).
Units: Share = proprietors’ income (SAINC4 line 70, millions of dollars) divided by total personal income (CAINC1 line 1, thousands of dollars), as percent; change is 2023 share minus 2010 share (percentage points).
Rankings (selected geographies)
| Rank | Area | 2010 share (%) | 2023 share (%) | Change (ppt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 6.66 | 10.99 | +4.33 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 12.72 | 16.17 | +3.45 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 12.48 | 15.33 | +2.85 |
| 4 | Utah | 5.73 | 8.48 | +2.75 |
| 5 | Arizona | 5.38 | 7.73 | +2.35 |
| 6 | Nebraska | 13.24 | 15.15 | +1.91 |
| 7 | Indiana | 9.24 | 10.95 | +1.71 |
| 8 | South Dakota | 17.14 | 18.38 | +1.24 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 6.23 | 7.27 | +1.05 |
| 10 | Oregon | 7.21 | 8.16 | +0.95 |
| 11 | Michigan | 6.24 | 7.09 | +0.85 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 5.03 | 5.73 | +0.70 |
| 13 | Minnesota | 7.31 | 7.99 | +0.68 |
| 14 | Texas | 12.31 | 12.80 | +0.49 |
| 15 | Iowa | 10.20 | 10.54 | +0.34 |
Change in proprietors' income share, 2010 to 2023 (percentage points)
Data sources
FAQs
What does this page measure?
It ranks states by how much proprietors' income grew as a share of total state personal income from 2010 to 2023, in percentage points.
The gap here means that change in share—not a survey self-employment rate or a wage-versus-business-owner paycheck comparison.
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We use Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional data: proprietors' income is SAINC4 LineCode 70 (millions of dollars); total personal income is CAINC1 LineCode 1 (thousands of dollars). The share in each year is comparable after accounting for those units.
Rankings show the largest increases in that share (2023 share minus 2010 share). States where the share fell rank lower; the table highlights the top increases.
BEA proprietors' income includes income from partnerships and other categories they classify under that heading; it is not identical to “self-employed only” in Census surveys.
Why is this not the same as the self-employment rate?
The self-employment rate usually comes from household surveys (for example, ACS) and counts people by class of worker.
This page uses national accounts income: how much proprietors' income contributes to total personal income in each state.
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Survey rates and BEA income shares answer different questions. A state can have a moderate survey self-employment rate but a high or rising share of proprietors' income in BEA data, or the reverse, depending on industry mix and income levels.
Use this page for income-weighted, state-level context from BEA; use survey sources when you need counts or demographics of self-employed workers.
What do percentage points mean here?
One percentage point is a one-point move on the share scale—for example, from 8% to 10% is a +2 percentage point change.
We report the change in the proprietors' income share from 2010 to 2023 in those units.
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Do not confuse percentage points with percent change of the share. A move from 8% to 10% is +2 percentage points, which is a 25% relative increase in the share itself.
The chart and table use the same rounded values for the top states shown.
How often is this data updated?
BEA revises regional personal income annually; major releases often follow the calendar year after the reference year.
This page is rebuilt when we refresh BEA-backed statistics posts.
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Check the post update date and the BEA Regional release notes if you need the exact vintage of the estimates.
Historical years can be revised when BEA improves source data or methods.
What are the limitations?
Figures are in current dollars; they are not adjusted for inflation across 2010 and 2023.
Small states and D.C. can show volatile shares; BEA may flag estimates with footnotes on state names.
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The ranking is descriptive—it does not explain causation (tax policy, migration, industry mix, etc.).
Cross-state comparison is for the published BEA concepts and units; do not mix with other tables without checking definitions.
Where can I get the raw data?
Use the BEA Regional Economic Accounts and the BEA API; the post lists official links under Data sources.
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Request SAINC4 LineCode 70 and CAINC1 LineCode 1 for state geographies and the years you need; apply the same unit logic as in the methodology if you replicate the share.
