St. Helena Parish: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in St. Helena Parish center on a median $41,934 (about the same as St. Helena Parish median $41,934; 1.5× below Louisiana median $61,391), with homes at a median value of $104,700.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $41,934 — below the Louisiana median ($61,391). Poverty rate 27.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%).
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $5,340 |
|---|---|
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $259,581 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $48,611 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Median Household Income | $41,934 (vs Louisiana $61,391) |
| Poverty Rate | 27.5% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 — county FIPS
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 21.5% — above the U.S. average of ~4%.
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 1,643 |
|---|---|
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $82,170,476 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $50,007 |
| 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 | 1,851,860 |
| Unemployment Rate | 21.5% (vs Louisiana 6.6%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
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 | 9 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 52,455 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 5,828.30 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Cattle, Milk, Crop Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 121 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 1,395 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 60,199 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — 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 | 3 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 5 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Law Offices | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Physician Offices | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Child Day Care | 6 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
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.
| Total Snap Stores | 15 |
|---|
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $81,023,601 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,419.74 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 10,920 people |
Sources: USAspending API