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

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.
See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts
Next: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
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.
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
Take Our Poll: What’s the First Thing You Would Do if You Won a Big Lottery Jackpot?
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
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
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
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
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
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
- 10 Do's and Don'ts of Costco Shopping
- Explore GOBankingRates' 2023 Banking Resource Center
- The 10 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards for 2023
- Experts: 4 Safest Places To Keep Your Savings
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.
Share This Article: