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

Because cost of living varies widely across the United States, being “rich” in one state might seem like just getting by in another and vice versa. “Rich” is a subjective term, and where you live has a lot to do with whether you can consider yourself truly wealthy.
To get an idea of what it really looks like 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%: $101,446
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $101,447
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $175,581
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $308,523
49. West Virginia
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $103,134
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $103,135
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $174,019
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $299,882
48. Arkansas
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $104,745
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $104,746
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $188,510
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $344,470
47. Kentucky
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $110,560
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $110,561
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $194,168
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $350,411
46. New Mexico
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $110,658
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $110,659
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $188,282
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $323,568
45. Oklahoma
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $111,821
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $111,822
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $195,269
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $348,180
44. Alabama
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $112,484
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $112,485
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $193,311
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $336,788
43. Louisiana
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $114,582
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $114,583
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $201,514
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $357,026
42. Tennessee
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $115,173
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $115,174
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $210,529
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $389,257
41. South Carolina
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $116,031
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,032
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $207,367
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $374,427
40. Montana
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $116,410
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,411
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $205,462
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $370,234
39. South Dakota
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $116,958
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,959
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $200,212
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $358,060
38. Indiana
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $116,982
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,983
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $198,848
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $347,661
37. Idaho
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $117,840
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $117,841
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $203,042
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $360,622
36. Missouri
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $118,736
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $118,737
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $207,969
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $371,277
35. Ohio
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $120,391
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $120,392
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $209,247
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $370,964
34. Maine
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $120,903
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $120,904
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $205,365
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $359,776
33. North Carolina
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $121,138
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $121,139
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $217,348
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $390,822
32. Iowa
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $121,177
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $121,178
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $203,398
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $352,704
31. Florida
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $122,778
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $122,779
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $230,107
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $431,870
30. Michigan
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $123,605
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $123,606
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $213,981
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $376,426
29. Kansas
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $123,784
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $123,785
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $215,122
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $383,038
28. Nebraska
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $124,068
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $124,069
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $213,091
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $378,679
27. Wisconsin
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $124,664
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $124,665
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $211,049
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $371,015
26. Wyoming
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $124,882
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $124,883
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $210,249
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $372,110
25. Nevada
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $126,061
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $126,062
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $224,480
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $410,161
24. Arizona
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $128,087
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $128,088
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $223,521
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $395,620
23. Vermont
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $129,207
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $129,208
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $218,086
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $376,807
22. North Dakota
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $129,260
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $129,261
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $217,143
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $380,261
21. Georgia
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $130,329
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $130,330
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $234,209
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $422,018
20. Pennsylvania
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $133,066
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $133,067
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $234,818
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $417,872
19. Oregon
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $$135,192
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $135,193
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $232,703
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $404,468
18. Texas
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $135,322
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $135,323
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $239,765
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $427,006
17. Delaware
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $139,533
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $139,534
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $238,612
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $420,859
16. Utah
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $140,467
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $140,468
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $239,149
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $421,379
15. Rhode Island
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $141,983
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $141,984
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $242,103
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $424,473
14. Illinois
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $144,310
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $144,311
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $258,373
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $466,713
13. Minnesota
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $145,570
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $145,571
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $250,361
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $441,274
12. Alaska
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $151,638
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $$151,639
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $242,097
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $394,694
11. Colorado
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $153,337
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $153,338
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $264,516
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $466,181
10. New Hampshire
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $155,955
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $155,956
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $258,632
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $440,829
9. New York
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $158,335
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $158,336
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $302,676
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $574,063
8. Washington
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $158,711
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $158,712
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $277,165
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $487,950
7. Virginia
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $161,393
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $161,394
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $280,299
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $486,006
6. Hawaii
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $164,036
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $164,037
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $271,560
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $459,305
5. Connecticut
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $169,182
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $169,183
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $319,533
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $602,707
5. California
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $171,386
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $171,387
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $309,857
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $555,007
3. Maryland
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $174,295
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $174,296
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $293,979
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $503,597
2. Massachusetts
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $179,469
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $179,470
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $316,447
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $558,616
1. New Jersey
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $180,557
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $180,558
- Average adjusted gross income of the top 20%: $319,140
- The minimum you need to make to be in the top 5%: $562,886
Jordan Rosenfeld and John Csiszar contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates used the United States Census Bureau’s 2021 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 January 24, 2023.
More From GOBankingRates
Share This Article:

Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter!
Get advice on achieving your financial goals and stay up to date on the day's top financial stories.
By clicking the 'Subscribe Now' button, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can click on the 'unsubscribe' link in the email at anytime.
Thank you for signing up!


Sending you timely financial stories that you can bank on.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest financial news and trending topics.
For our full Privacy Policy, click here.