How Does Your Salary Measure Up To the Average American Income?
Find out if you're underpaid compared to people in your state.
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What’s a good salary? That really depends on where you live, with the average American income varying widely across the country. If you think you might be underpaid, knowing the average salary in your state can help you negotiate for a more reasonable paycheck. Or, if you’re willing to relocate for a higher salary, it’s useful to see the typical income in each state so that you can move to where people earn the most.
GOBankingRates analyzed U.S. Census Bureau income data for every state and the District of Columbia to find the highest average income by state. In five states, for example, the average household income is in the six figures. For the purposes of this study, average household income refers to mean household income, which is different from median household income. Keep reading to discover how your salary compares to the typical income in your state.
Last Updated: Dec. 23, 2019
Average Household Income in Alabama: $64,476
- Median household income: $46,472
- Median income for men: $48,379
- Median income for women: $36,088
Only four states have a lower average household income than Alabama, and only three have a lower median household income. When broken down by gender, the state has the 10th-lowest median income for women and the 16th-lowest median income for men.
Average Household Income in Alaska: $94,469
- Median household income: $76,114
- Median income for men: $61,751
- Median income for women: $49,496
Alaska has the eighth-highest average salary in the U.S., and it also has the fourth-highest median household income. If you look at pay by gender, Alaska has the sixth-highest median income for both men and women.
Average Household Income in Arizona: $73,735
- Median household income: $53,510
- Median income for men: $47,692
- Median income for women: $40,121
Arizona ranks 30th for highest average annual income. Looking at income by age, residents under 25 earn a median household income of $32,519, and millennials in the state earn a median household income of $60,862.
Average Household Income in Arkansas: $61,330
- Median household income: $43,813
- Median income for men: $42,494
- Median income for women: $34,158
Arkansas has the third-lowest average household income by state, and it has the second-lowest median household income. It also has the lowest median income for men and the second-lowest median income for women.
Average Household Income in California: $96,104
- Median household income: $67,169
- Median income for men: $53,258
- Median income for women: $46,773
The Golden State really is golden — it has the sixth-highest average household income and the 10th-highest median household income in the U.S. Women’s salaries are higher in California than in most other states, too — female workers earn a median salary that’s the eighth highest overall.
Average Household Income in Colorado: $88,388
- Median household income: $65,458
- Median income for men: $54,582
- Median income for women: $44,912
There’s a large gender pay gap in Colorado, with a nearly $10,000 difference between the median income for men and women. On the plus side, the state ranks 13th for highest average income in the country.
Average Household Income in Connecticut: $105,998
- Median household income: $73,781
- Median income for men: $66,077
- Median income for women: $52,923
Connecticut has the second-highest average household income and the seventh-highest median household income of all the states. It also pays to be a man in Connecticut, which has the second-highest median income for men in the U.S. At the same time, it’s not a bad place to be a woman — Connecticut has the fourth-highest median income for women overall.
Average Household Income in Delaware: $84,146
- Median household income: $63,036
- Median income for men: $53,857
- Median income for women: $45,841
Delaware comes in 16th when ranking the states by highest average household income. If you look at income by age in Delaware, millennials earn a median household income of $61,401, and members of Generation X earn a median household income of $79,762.
Average Household Income in District of Columbia: $116,090
- Median household income: $77,649
- Median income for men: $76,005
- Median income for women: $66,639
The average family living in the nation’s capital makes more than average families living anywhere else in the U.S. The District of Columbia also has the second-highest median household income in the country.
Although men make more than women in Washington, D.C., on average, it’s the city with the highest median income for each gender.
Average Household Income in Florida: $72,993
- Median household income: $50,883
- Median income for men: $43,564
- Median income for women: $37,190
Florida’s median income for men is the third lowest of all the states. Overall, the state ranks 32nd for the highest average household income.
Average Household Income in Georgia: $74,763
- Median household income: $52,977
- Median income for men: $48,040
- Median income for women: $39,185
Georgia ranks 25th for highest average household income. Residents ages 45 to 64 earn the most of all age groups, with a median household income of $67,602.
Average Household Income in Hawaii: $95,569
- Median household income: $74,923
- Median income for men: $51,493
- Median income for women: $42,349
The cost of living is high in Hawaii, but fortunately, so are the wages. The Aloha State has the seventh-highest average income and the fifth-highest median income in the country.
Average Household Income in Idaho: $67,338
- Median household income: $50,985
- Median income for men: $46,460
- Median income for women: $34,621
Idaho has the ninth-lowest average household income of all the states. Its median income for men is the eighth lowest, and its median income for women is the third lowest.
Average Household Income in Illinois: $85,262
- Median household income: $61,229
- Median income for men: $55,994
- Median income for women: $43,816
The difference between what the two genders earn is significant in Illinois, where the median income for men is over $12,000 more than the median income for women.
Average Household Income in Indiana: $69,197
- Median household income: $52,182
- Median income for men: $50,432
- Median income for women: $37,329
Indiana ranks 39th for highest average household income. The state has a significant gender pay gap, with a median income for men that’s over $13,000 more than the median income for women.
Average Household Income in Iowa: $73,510
- Median household income: $56,570
- Median income for men: $50,523
- Median income for women: $39,022
There’s a big gap between men’s and women’s median earnings in Iowa — the difference is a whopping $11,000. Overall, Iowa ranks 31st for highest average household income.
Average Household Income in Kansas: $74,633
- Median household income: $55,477
- Median income for men: $50,304
- Median income for women: $38,717
Kansas ranks 26th for highest average household income. The state has a large gender wage gap — the median income for men is nearly $12,000 more than the median income for women.
Average Household Income in Kentucky: $64,436
- Median household income: $46,535
- Median income for men: $46,778
- Median income for women: $36,807
Kentucky has one of the lowest average household incomes — the average household income is lower in only three states. It also has the fifth-lowest median household income.
Average Household Income in Louisiana: $66,861
- Median household income: $46,710
- Median income for men: $51,381
- Median income for women: $35,385
Income levels in Louisiana are much lower than in most other states. The Pelican State has the eighth-lowest average household income and the sixth-lowest median household income overall.
It also has the sixth-lowest median income for women — but its median income for men is actually one of the highest in GOBankingRates’ study.
Average Household Income in Maine: $70,210
- Median household income: $53,024
- Median income for men: $50,329
- Median income for women: $40,054
Maine’s average household income is on the lower end — the state ranks 37th for highest average income. Men earn roughly $10,000 more than women in Maine, on average.
Average Household Income in Maryland: $103,845
- Median household income: $78,916
- Median income for men: $63,136
- Median income for women: $53,436
The average household income in Maryland is the fourth highest of all the states, and its median household income is the highest. Men in Maryland earn the fifth-highest median pay compared to men in other states, and women in the state earn the third-highest median pay.
Average Household Income in Massachusetts: $101,858
- Median household income: $74,167
- Median income for men: $66,066
- Median income for women: $53,841
The average household income in Massachusetts is just slightly less than the average income in Maryland. The Bay State has the fifth-highest average income overall, and it also has the sixth-highest median income.
When broken down by gender, Massachusetts has the third-highest median income for men as well as the second-highest median income for women.
Average Household Income in Michigan: $72,091
- Median household income: $52,668
- Median income for men: $52,324
- Median income for women: $40,717
Michigan ranks 33rd for highest average household income. It’s one of the many states with a large gender pay gap — the median income for women is roughly $12,000 less than the median income for men.
Average Household Income in Minnesota: $86,796
- Median household income: $65,699
- Median income for men: $55,509
- Median income for women: $45,255
People in Minnesota earn more than people in most other states. The Land of 10,000 Lakes ranks 14th for states with the highest average household income.
Average Household Income in Mississippi: $58,371
- Median household income: $42,009
- Median income for men: $43,002
- Median income for women: $33,086
Mississippi has the lowest average household income — as well as the lowest median income — of all the states. Its median income for men is the second lowest in the U.S., and its median income for women is the lowest.
Average Household Income in Missouri: $70,144
- Median household income: $51,542
- Median income for men: $48,443
- Median income for women: $37,685
Men earn nearly $11,000 more than women, on average, in Missouri, which ranks 38th for highest average household income.
Average Household Income in Montana: $68,622
- Median household income: $50,801
- Median income for men: $47,995
- Median income for women: $35,744
Montana’s median income for women is the ninth lowest in the U.S., and its median income for men is the 14th lowest. Overall, the state ranks 40th for highest average household income.
Average Household Income in Nebraska: $74,309
- Median household income: $56,675
- Median income for men: $49,575
- Median income for women: $38,052
Nebraska’s average household income falls toward the middle compared to the other states — it ranks 28th for highest average household income. Millennials in Nebraska earn a median household income of $66,705, which is about $10,000 more than the overall median income in the state.
Average Household Income in Nevada: $73,862
- Median household income: $55,434
- Median income for men: $46,701
- Median income for women: $38,230
The median income for men working in Nevada is the 10th lowest when compared to men’s income in other states. The state comes in at No. 29 for the highest average household income.
Average Household Income in New Hampshire: $91,605
- Median household income: $71,305
- Median income for men: $59,962
- Median income for women: $46,178
At No. 11, the average income in New Hampshire is just shy of landing in the top 10. The state’s median household income is the eighth highest in the country, and it also has the eighth-highest median income for men.
Average Household Income in New Jersey: $105,917
- Median household income: $76,475
- Median income for men: $65,299
- Median income for women: $52,208
Only the District of Columbia and Connecticut have higher average household incomes than New Jersey. The Garden State also has the third-highest median household income in the U.S. In terms of pay by gender, New Jersey has the fourth-highest median income for men and the fifth-highest median income for women.
Average Household Income in New Mexico: $64,625
- Median household income: $46,718
- Median income for men: $45,539
- Median income for women: $36,636
The average household income in New Mexico is the sixth lowest overall. The state also has the seventh-lowest median household income and the fourth-lowest median income for men.
Average Household Income in New York: $93,443
- Median household income: $62,765
- Median income for men: $55,953
- Median income for women: $48,740
New York has the 10th-highest average household income of all the states. Although the median income for men is higher than the median income for women, the figures don’t tell the full story — women’s income in New York ranks No. 7 compared to what women in other states make, whereas income for men in New York isn’t in the top 10 compared to what men make in other states.
Average Household Income in North Carolina: $70,523
- Median household income: $50,320
- Median income for men: $46,162
- Median income for women: $38,160
North Carolina’s median income for men is the seventh lowest of all the states. The state comes in at No. 36 when ranking by highest average household income.
Average Household Income in North Dakota: $81,334
- Median household income: $61,285
- Median income for men: $53,682
- Median income for women: $39,223
North Dakota’s average household income is higher than most — it ranks 19th in the U.S. However, women make much less than men in this state, with a difference of over $13,000 between the genders’ median incomes.
Average Household Income in Ohio: $71,119
- Median household income: $52,407
- Median income for men: $51,478
- Median income for women: $40,275
Ohio ranks 34th for highest average household income. When you look at income by gender in the state, Gen Zers earn a median household income of $30,126, and Gen Xers earn a median household income of $65,835.
Average Household Income in Oklahoma: $67,682
- Median household income: $49,767
- Median income for men: $47,351
- Median income for women: $35,283
Oklahoma rounds out the bottom 10 states with the lowest average household income and the lowest median household income. The state has the fifth-lowest median income for women and the 12th-lowest median income for men.
Average Household Income in Oregon: $75,851
- Median household income: $56,119
- Median income for men: $51,513
- Median income for women: $41,672
Oregon comes in at No. 23 when ranking by highest average household income. Millennials in the state earn a median household income of $67,335, and older boomers earn a median household income of $46,222.
Average Household Income in Pennsylvania: $78,192
- Median household income: $56,951
- Median income for men: $53,541
- Median income for women: $42,124
The average income in Pennsylvania is slightly higher than in Oregon — the state ranks 21st for highest average household income.
Average Household Income in Rhode Island: $82,407
- Median household income: $61,043
- Median income for men: $55,782
- Median income for women: $46,452
Women in Rhode Island make more than they do in most other states — the state has the 10th-highest median income for women. Overall, the state ranks 18th for highest average income.
Average Household Income in South Carolina: $66,759
- Median household income: $48,781
- Median income for men: $46,007
- Median income for women: $35,955
South Carolina’s average household income is the seventh lowest of all the states, and its median household income is the ninth lowest. It also has the sixth-lowest median income for men and the ninth-lowest median income for women.
Average Household Income in South Dakota: $71,085
- Median household income: $54,126
- Median income for men: $46,650
- Median income for women: $35,478
South Dakota’s median income for men is the ninth lowest in the U.S., and its median income for women is the seventh lowest. The state comes in at No. 35 for the highest average household income.
Average Household Income in Tennessee: $68,386
- Median household income: $48,708
- Median income for men: $45,700
- Median income for women: $36,887
The median household income in Tennessee is the eighth lowest of all the states, and its average income falls just shy of being in the bottom 10 states, coming in at No. 41. It also has the fifth-lowest median income for men.
Average Household Income in Texas: $80,879
- Median household income: $57,051
- Median income for men: $50,002
- Median income for women: $39,857
The average income in Texas is on the higher end compared to incomes in other states; its average household income ranks No. 20 in the U.S. But, there’s bad news for women in the Lone Star State — they earn about $10,000 less than men.
Average Household Income in Utah: $83,147
- Median household income: $65,325
- Median income for men: $52,997
- Median income for women: $37,224
Utah ranks 17th for highest average household income. But the state has one of the widest gender income gaps, with a difference of nearly $16,000 between men’s and women’s median earnings.
Average Household Income in Vermont: $75,621
- Median household income: $57,808
- Median income for men: $50,530
- Median income for women: $42,198
Vermont’s average household income is right in the middle of the pack — the state has the 24th-highest average income in the U.S.
Average Household Income in Virginia: $94,229
- Median household income: $68,766
- Median income for men: $58,987
- Median income for women: $46,061
The average income in Virginia is the ninth highest in the U.S. Its overall median household income and the median income for men are also the ninth highest.
Average Household Income in Washington: $88,563
- Median household income: $66,174
- Median income for men: $60,625
- Median income for women: $46,672
Washington ranks 12th for highest average income, but it ranks even higher — No. 7 — for median income for men. It also has the ninth-highest median income for women.
Average Household Income in West Virginia: $59,634
- Median household income: $44,061
- Median income for men: $48,971
- Median income for women: $34,712
Only Mississippi has a lower average household income than West Virginia. West Virginia also has the third-lowest median household income in the U.S., and it has the fourth-lowest median income for women. Men fare much better, with a median income that doesn’t fall in the bottom 10.
Average Household Income in Wisconsin: $74,372
- Median household income: $56,759
- Median income for men: $51,336
- Median income for women: $40,759
Wisconsin ranks 27th for highest average household income. The state’s median household income for Gen Xers is $73,417.
Average Household Income in Wyoming: $76,731
- Median household income: $60,938
- Median income for men: $56,262
- Median income for women: $39,930
The median income for men in Wyoming is the 10th highest of all the states, but the state’s average salary ranks lower, at No. 22.
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Michael Keenan contributed to the reporting for the article.
Methodology: GOBankingRates sourced all U.S. average incomes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey. Due to the methods of the Census Bureau, incomes for men and women are individual incomes, whereas incomes for overall categories and age groups are household incomes. Household incomes take into account every kind of household, ranging from one person to multiple people. All information in this article is accurate at the time the study was conducted in June 2019.
Data is accurate as of June 4, 2019, and is subject to change.
About the Author
Gabrielle Olya
Gabrielle joined GOBankingRates in 2017 and brings with her a decade of experience in the journalism industry. Before joining the team, she was a staff writer-reporter for People Magazine and People.com. Her work has also appeared on E! Online, Us Weekly, Patch, Sweety High and Discover Los Angeles, and she has been featured on “Good Morning America” as a celebrity news expert.
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