Demographical profile of the Iranian community in the United States based on the 1990 US census

From a small beginning of perhaps no more than 15,000 individuals in 1965, the Iranian population of the United States grew rapidly to 121,000 in 1980. Current estimates are between 800,000 to 1,100,000.
The marked increase in immigration can be explained through two important events. First due to the substantial wealth of the country prior to the 1979 revolution, many families and the government chose to send students abroad for higher level education. By 1977, Iran had more students abroad than any other country in the world at 227,497. By 1979 in the US alone, there were 51,310 college students, ranking first amongst foreign nationalities. Second, after the revolution in 1979, not only did many of these students opt to remain in the US, but many of their relatives also decided to join them, later becoming naturalized citizens (or residents).
Based on the 1990 census figures, one can draw a fairly accurate portrait of this community:
Although coming from a non-English speaking country, 84% of Iranian-Americans speak fluent English.
46% have a bachelors degree or higher, which ranks the group not only higher than any other recently arrived immigrant group, but also higher than natives in terms of educational achievement.
This high academic achievement has undoubtedly contributed to the high occupational and financial accomplishment of Iranians as well. 43% of Iranians are in professional and managerial positions, 35% in technical and administrative, 10% are in various services and the balance are spread over farming, craft and laborers.
48% of the Iranian-American community are dual income earners and 22% own their own businesses.
Median family income is $55,501 (substantially above the national average of $35,492) and per capita income is $18,040.
92% of Iranians have a mortgage.

References: Demographic data of Iranians in the US