How Do You Stack Up to the Average Income in Your State?
See where your income ranks relative to every state in the U.S.View Gallery
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Understanding what the average income is in your state can help you determine if you’re ahead of the curve or behind it when it comes to your own salary. Averages are typically measured in two ways: mean and median. Mean or “average” income takes the total amount of earnings across a sample and divides it by the number of participants. Median income, on the other hand, is the midway point of a sample, with half the people sampled earning above the median and half earning less.
The difference can be significant. High earners can skew the average income much higher than the median income. To use a simple example, if two earners make $20,000, one makes $40,000 and two make $120,000, the median income is $40,000. However, the average is $64,000. Thus, depending on how you measure “average” income, the figures can be highly variable. This differential can be seen in terms of the U.S. as a whole, where the average family household income is $84,938 but the median is just $60,293.
Regional differences can also play a huge role in average income. States with higher costs typically also have higher average wages. However, some states have higher wages overall regardless of typical expenses. For example, California is regarded as a high-cost state, and average salaries unexpectedly top $101,000. However, Minnesota is not generally considered an expensive place to live, yet average salaries top $90,000 in the state, far above the national average income of $84,938.
To help get the black-and-white figures for worker income in every U.S. state, GOBankingRates conducted a study using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Both mean and median state income figures were tallied. Results are presented in alphabetical order, from Alabama to Wyoming. These figures were sampled long before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country and drove unemployment rates into the double digits. As such, these averages are likely to change when sampled in the future.
Last updated: Nov. 3, 2020
Alabama
- Average household income: $67,243
- Median household income: $48,486
Alaska
- Average household income: $96,499
- Median household income: $76,715
Arizona
- Average household income: $77,221
- Median household income: $56,213
Arkansas
- Average household income: $64,272
- Median household income: $45,726
California
- Average household income: $101,493
- Median household income: $71,228
Colorado
- Average household income: $92,520
- Median household income: $68,811
Connecticut
- Average household income: $109,693
- Median household income: $76,106
Related: See What a $100K Salary Looks Like After Taxes in Your State
Delaware
- Average household income: $86,962
- Median household income: $65,627
District of Columbia
- Average household income: $121,698
- Median household income: $82,604
Florida
- Average household income: $76,652
- Median household income: $53,267
Georgia
- Average household income: $78,574
- Median household income: $55,679
Find Out: How Much Money Is Considered Middle Class in Your State?
Hawaii
- Average household income: $99,765
- Median household income: $78,084
Idaho
- Average household income: $70,620
- Median household income: $53,089
Illinois
- Average household income: $88,857
- Median household income: $63,575
Indiana
- Average household income: $71,912
- Median household income: $54,325
Iowa
- Average household income: $75,951
- Median household income: $58,580
Discover: 35 Cities Where You Can Afford To Live on Less Than $50,000
Kansas
- Average household income: $77,509
- Median household income: $57,422
Kentucky
- Average household income: $67,110
- Median household income: $48,392
Louisiana
- Average household income: $68,823
- Median household income: $47,942
Maine
- Average household income: $73,210
- Median household income: $55,425
Maryland
- Average household income: $107,482
- Median household income: $81,868
Massachusetts
- Average household income: $106,627
- Median household income: $77,378
Read: What You Actually Take Home From a $200,000 Salary in Every State
Michigan
- Average household income: $75,352
- Median household income: $54,938
Minnesota
- Average household income: $90,600
- Median household income: $68,411
Mississippi
- Average household income: $60,640
- Median household income: $43,567
Missouri
- Average household income: $73,145
- Median household income: $53,560
Montana
- Average household income: $70,959
- Median household income: $52,559
Nebraska
- Average household income: $77,278
- Median household income: $59,116
Nevada
- Average household income: $77,319
- Median household income: $57,598
New Hampshire
- Average household income: $95,876
- Median household income: $74,057
New Jersey
- Average household income: $110,140
- Median household income: $79,363
New Mexico
- Average household income: $66,565
- Median household income: $48,059
New York
- Average household income: $97,424
- Median household income: $65,323
Don’t Miss: How Much You Need To Be in the Top 5% in Every State
North Carolina
- Average household income: $73,753
- Median household income: $52,413
North Dakota
- Average household income: $84,043
- Median household income: $63,473
Ohio
- Average household income: $74,109
- Median household income: $54,533
Oklahoma
- Average household income: $70,262
- Median household income: $51,424
Oregon
- Average household income: $80,040
- Median household income: $59,393
Young Money: How Much Millennials Earn in Every State
Pennsylvania
- Average household income: $81,549
- Median household income: $59,445
Rhode Island
- Average household income: $85,527
- Median household income: $63,296
South Carolina
- Average household income: $70,093
- Median household income: $51,015
South Dakota
- Average household income: $73,768
- Median household income: $56,499
Tennessee
- Average household income: $71,458
- Median household income: $50,972
Texas
- Average household income: $84,221
- Median household income: $59,570
See: 20 Top Jobs for Millennials Who Want To Make Six Figures
Utah
- Average household income: $87,053
- Median household income: $68,374
Vermont
- Average household income: $78,472
- Median household income: $60,076
Virginia
- Average household income: $98,000
- Median household income: $71,564
Washington
- Average household income: $93,847
- Median household income: $70,116
West Virginia
- Average household income: $61,225
- Median household income: $44,921
Check Out: 10 Essential Jobs Across America With Big Paychecks for Employees
Wisconsin
- Average household income: $77,687
- Median household income: $59,209
Wyoming
- Average household income: $79,257
- Median household income: $62,268
More From GOBankingRates
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Methodology: In order to determine each state’s average income (i.e., mean income), GOBankingRates used the five-year estimates from the 2018 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The same information was used to find each state’s median household income. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 29, 2020.
About the Author
John Csiszar
After earning a B.A. in English with a Specialization in Business from UCLA, John Csiszar worked in the financial services industry as a registered representative for 18 years. Along the way, Csiszar earned both Certified Financial Planner and Registered Investment Adviser designations, in addition to being licensed as a life agent, while working for both a major Wall Street wirehouse and for his own investment advisory firm. During his time as an advisor, Csiszar managed over $100 million in client assets while providing individualized investment plans for hundreds of clients.
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Understanding what the average income is in your state can help you determine if you’re ahead of the curve or behind it when it comes to your own salary. Averages are typically measured in two ways: mean and median. Mean or “average” income takes the total amount of earnings across a sample and divides it by the number of participants. Median income, on the other hand, is the midway point of a sample, with half the people sampled earning above the median and half earning less.
The difference can be significant. High earners can skew the average income much higher than the median income. To use a simple example, if two earners make $20,000, one makes $40,000 and two make $120,000, the median income is $40,000. However, the average is $64,000. Thus, depending on how you measure “average” income, the figures can be highly variable. This differential can be seen in terms of the U.S. as a whole, where the average family household income is $84,938 but the median is just $60,293.
Regional differences can also play a huge role in average income. States with higher costs typically also have higher average wages. However, some states have higher wages overall regardless of typical expenses. For example, California is regarded as a high-cost state, and average salaries unexpectedly top $101,000. However, Minnesota is not generally considered an expensive place to live, yet average salaries top $90,000 in the state, far above the national average income of $84,938.
To help get the black-and-white figures for worker income in every U.S. state, GOBankingRates conducted a study using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Both mean and median state income figures were tallied. Results are presented in alphabetical order, from Alabama to Wyoming. These figures were sampled long before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country and drove unemployment rates into the double digits. As such, these averages are likely to change when sampled in the future.
Last updated: Nov. 3, 2020
Alabama
- Average household income: $67,243
- Median household income: $48,486
Alaska
- Average household income: $96,499
- Median household income: $76,715
Arizona
- Average household income: $77,221
- Median household income: $56,213
Arkansas
- Average household income: $64,272
- Median household income: $45,726
California
- Average household income: $101,493
- Median household income: $71,228
Colorado
- Average household income: $92,520
- Median household income: $68,811
Connecticut
- Average household income: $109,693
- Median household income: $76,106
Related: See What a $100K Salary Looks Like After Taxes in Your State
Delaware
- Average household income: $86,962
- Median household income: $65,627
District of Columbia
- Average household income: $121,698
- Median household income: $82,604
Florida
- Average household income: $76,652
- Median household income: $53,267
Georgia
- Average household income: $78,574
- Median household income: $55,679
Find Out: How Much Money Is Considered Middle Class in Your State?
Hawaii
- Average household income: $99,765
- Median household income: $78,084
Idaho
- Average household income: $70,620
- Median household income: $53,089
Illinois
- Average household income: $88,857
- Median household income: $63,575
Indiana
- Average household income: $71,912
- Median household income: $54,325
Iowa
- Average household income: $75,951
- Median household income: $58,580
Discover: 35 Cities Where You Can Afford To Live on Less Than $50,000
Kansas
- Average household income: $77,509
- Median household income: $57,422
Kentucky
- Average household income: $67,110
- Median household income: $48,392
Louisiana
- Average household income: $68,823
- Median household income: $47,942
Maine
- Average household income: $73,210
- Median household income: $55,425
Maryland
- Average household income: $107,482
- Median household income: $81,868
Massachusetts
- Average household income: $106,627
- Median household income: $77,378
Read: What You Actually Take Home From a $200,000 Salary in Every State
Michigan
- Average household income: $75,352
- Median household income: $54,938
Minnesota
- Average household income: $90,600
- Median household income: $68,411
Mississippi
- Average household income: $60,640
- Median household income: $43,567
Missouri
- Average household income: $73,145
- Median household income: $53,560
Montana
- Average household income: $70,959
- Median household income: $52,559
Nebraska
- Average household income: $77,278
- Median household income: $59,116
Nevada
- Average household income: $77,319
- Median household income: $57,598
New Hampshire
- Average household income: $95,876
- Median household income: $74,057
New Jersey
- Average household income: $110,140
- Median household income: $79,363
New Mexico
- Average household income: $66,565
- Median household income: $48,059
New York
- Average household income: $97,424
- Median household income: $65,323
Don’t Miss: How Much You Need To Be in the Top 5% in Every State
North Carolina
- Average household income: $73,753
- Median household income: $52,413
North Dakota
- Average household income: $84,043
- Median household income: $63,473
Ohio
- Average household income: $74,109
- Median household income: $54,533
Oklahoma
- Average household income: $70,262
- Median household income: $51,424
Oregon
- Average household income: $80,040
- Median household income: $59,393
Young Money: How Much Millennials Earn in Every State
Pennsylvania
- Average household income: $81,549
- Median household income: $59,445
Rhode Island
- Average household income: $85,527
- Median household income: $63,296
South Carolina
- Average household income: $70,093
- Median household income: $51,015
South Dakota
- Average household income: $73,768
- Median household income: $56,499
Tennessee
- Average household income: $71,458
- Median household income: $50,972
Texas
- Average household income: $84,221
- Median household income: $59,570
See: 20 Top Jobs for Millennials Who Want To Make Six Figures
Utah
- Average household income: $87,053
- Median household income: $68,374
Vermont
- Average household income: $78,472
- Median household income: $60,076
Virginia
- Average household income: $98,000
- Median household income: $71,564
Washington
- Average household income: $93,847
- Median household income: $70,116
West Virginia
- Average household income: $61,225
- Median household income: $44,921
Check Out: 10 Essential Jobs Across America With Big Paychecks for Employees
Wisconsin
- Average household income: $77,687
- Median household income: $59,209
Wyoming
- Average household income: $79,257
- Median household income: $62,268
More From GOBankingRates
- 37 Ways To Save For Your Emergency Fund and Any Unexpected Situations
- Are You Spending More Than the Average American on 25 Everyday Items?
- 12 Crucial Money Tips for Every Phase of Your Financial Life
- Guns and 32 Other Things You Definitely Do NOT Need To Buy During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Methodology: In order to determine each state’s average income (i.e., mean income), GOBankingRates used the five-year estimates from the 2018 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The same information was used to find each state’s median household income. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 29, 2020.
About the Author
John Csiszar
After earning a B.A. in English with a Specialization in Business from UCLA, John Csiszar worked in the financial services industry as a registered representative for 18 years. Along the way, Csiszar earned both Certified Financial Planner and Registered Investment Adviser designations, in addition to being licensed as a life agent, while working for both a major Wall Street wirehouse and for his own investment advisory firm. During his time as an advisor, Csiszar managed over $100 million in client assets while providing individualized investment plans for hundreds of clients.