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Here’s How Much You Need To Earn To Be ‘Rich’ in Every State

By Andrew Lisa

Comedian Chris Rock has an old joke about how bad Bill Gates would feel if he woke up one day with Oprah’s money. The point was that “rich” is a subjective term. The same holds true if you make a lot of money in America — where you live has a lot to do with whether you can think of yourself as truly wealthy.

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To get an idea of what it means to be rich in America, GOBankingRates used IRS data to conduct a study of the top incomes as they break down by state. It lays out what income level is needed to place you in the top 20% and the top 5% of incomes within your state. Check out how much money you need to be “rich” in your state.

Make Your Money Work for You

50. Mississippi

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $96,203
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $96,204
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $167,054
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $293,928

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49. West Virginia

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $97,032
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $97,033
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $162,803
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $278,324

48. Arkansas

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $99,117
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $99,118
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $178,169
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $326,819

47. Kentucky

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $104,503
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $104,504
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $183,977
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $333,709

46. New Mexico

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $104,611
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $104, 612
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $177,322
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $305,354

45. Alabama

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $106,150
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $106,151
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $182,881
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $320,543

44. Oklahoma

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $106,215
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $106,216
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $186,369
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $335,004

43. Tennessee

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $108,464
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $108,465
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $197,105
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $363,868
Make Your Money Work for You

42. Louisiana

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $108,488
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $108,489
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $194,298
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $354,460

41. Montana

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $109,060
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $109,061
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $191,363
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $343,938

40. South Carolina

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $109,395
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $109,396
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $194,873
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $351,194

39. Idaho

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $109,976
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $109,977
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $186,965
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $328,467

38. South Dakota

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $110,085
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $1110,086
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $186,901
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $330,791

37. Indiana

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $110,334
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $110,335
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $187,367
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $328,824

36. Missouri

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $111,488
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $111,489
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $195,397
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $349,533

35. North Carolina

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $113,094
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $113,095
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $203,675
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $367,303
Make Your Money Work for You

34. Maine

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $113,135
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $113,136
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $190,047
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $327,970

33. Ohio

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $113,203
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $113,204
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $196,676
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $348,746

32. Iowa

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $114,538
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $114,539
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $192,132
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $333,619

31. Florida

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $115,410
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $115,411
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $217,044
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $408,096

30. Michigan

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $116,295
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,296
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $202,312
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $357,366

29. Nebraska

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $116,752
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,753
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $198,337
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $348,302

28. Kansas

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $116,972
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,973
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $202,842
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $360,559

27. Wisconsin

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $117,682
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $117,683
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $199,636
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $351,983
Make Your Money Work for You

26. Nevada

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $118,028
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $118,029
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $210,939
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $386,175

25. Wyoming

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $119,290
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $119,291
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $198,507
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $349,123

24. Arizona

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $119,971
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $119,972
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $212,161
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $380,865

23. Vermont

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $121,102
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $121,103
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $202,860
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $350,210

22. Georgia

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $122,453
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $122,454
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $220,590
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $399,216

21. North Dakota

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $122,487
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $122,488
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $207,695
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $366,643

20. Pennsylvania

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $119,971
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $119,972
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $212,161
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $380,865

19. Oregon

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $126,927
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $126,928
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $217,779
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $377,853
Make Your Money Work for You

18. Texas

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $128,683
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $128,684
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $228,655
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $408,722

17. Utah

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $131,506
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $131,507
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $221,056
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $386,951

16. Delaware

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $132,129
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $132,130
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $227,409
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $402,529

15. Rhode Island

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $134,294
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $134,295
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $228,818
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $404,212

14. Illinois

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $136,273
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $136,274
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $243,693
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $439,891

13. Minnesota

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $137,148
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $137,149
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $235,803
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $415,214

12. Colorado

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $143,595
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $143,596
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $249,285
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $440,444

11. Alaska

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $144,129
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $144,130
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $228,744
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $371,359
Make Your Money Work for You

10. New Hampshire

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $146,057
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $146,058
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $242,876
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $412,481

9. Washington

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $147,813
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $147,814
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $256,705
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $450,974

8. New York

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $149,620
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $149,621
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $285,154
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $540,193

7. Virginia

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $152,568
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $152,569
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $269,655
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $429,036

6. Hawaii

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $156,110
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $156,111
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $256,417
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $429,036

5. California

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $160,999
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $161,000
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $290,289
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $519,940

4. Connecticut

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $161,107
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $161,108
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $305,322
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $577,072

3. Maryland

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $165,625
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $165,626
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $278,422
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $475,373

2. Massachusetts

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $168,870
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $168,871
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $296,554
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $522,961

1. New Jersey

  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $170,963
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $170,964
  • Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $301,019
  • The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $529,601

More From GOBankingRates

John Csiszar contributed to the reporting for this article. 

Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates used the United States Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey income quintile data to find each state’s: (1) lowest income to be considered in the top 20% richest income bracket; (2) the average income of the richest 20% and (3) the average income of the richest 5%. Only factor (1) was considered in final rankings. All data was collected and is up to date as of April 20, 2022.

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About the Author

Andrew Lisa

Andrew Lisa

Andrew Lisa has been writing professionally since 2001. An award-winning writer, Andrew was formerly one of the youngest nationally distributed columnists for the largest newspaper syndicate in the country, the Gannett News Service. He worked as the business section editor for amNewYork, the most widely distributed newspaper in Manhattan, and worked as a copy editor for TheStreet.com, a financial publication in the heart of Wall Street's investment community in New York City.

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