Introduction: early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder plays a critical role in the effectiveness of corrective interventions. However, the timing of ASD identification varies significantly depending on the family's socioeconomic status. Parental education level and financial situation influence their awareness of developmental disorders and willingness to actively seek diagnosis. Investigating these factors is essential for developing differentiated approaches to family education and improving the system of early diagnosis. Objective: investigate the impact of family socioeconomic status on early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in children in the Moscow region. Materials and methods: a retrospective study was conducted involving 375 children with ASD (aged 2–8 years) at the Children's Psychoneurological Hospital of the Moscow Region Ministry of Health, Russia. Data were collected using a standardized parent questionnaire approved by the Ethical Committee for Sociological Research in Public Health at the Central Research Institute for Organization and Informatization of Healthcare of the Russian Ministry of Health. Statistical analysis included the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, median (Q1–Q3), Pearson's chi-square (χ²), and Cramér's V. Statistical significance was defined as p 100,000 rubles (median 5 years versus 4 years). Discussions: the findings demonstrate a relationship between family education and financial status with the age of ASD diagnosis. Despite equal access to the healthcare system, the observed differences are associated with family motivation and activity in pursuing diagnosis. Parents with higher education levels recognize developmental abnormalities earlier, seek specialist consultation more frequently, and demonstrate greater adherence to medical recommendations. At the population level, these differences create inequalities in diagnostic timing. The healthcare system must address these disparities by increasing parental awareness and enhancing early detection processes in primary health care. Conclusion: the study demonstrates that family socioeconomic status influences early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This relationship is mediated by differences in parental awareness and engagement. To reduce these disparities at the population level, comprehensive parental education and active case identification in primary health care systems are necessary.