Understanding what the average income is in your state can help you get a sense of where your own salary falls. 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.
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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 $88,607 but the median is just $62,843.
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 top $111,000. However, Minnesota is not generally considered an expensive place to live, yet average salaries top $96,000 in the state, above the national average income of $91,547.
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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 2020 American Community Survey. Both mean and median state income figures were tallied. Results are presented in alphabetical order, from Alabama to Wyoming.
Alabama
- Average household income: $71,964
- Median household income: $52,035
Alaska
- Average household income: $98,811
- Median household income: $77,790
Arizona
- Average household income:$84,380
- Median household income: $61,529
Arkansas
- Average household income: $69,357
- Median household income: $49,475
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California
- Average household income: $111,622
- Median household income: $78,672
Colorado
- Average household income: $100,933
- Median household income: $75,231
Connecticut
- Average household income: $115,337
- Median household income: $79,855
Delaware
- Average household income: $92,308
- Median household income: $69,110
Florida
- Average household income: $83,104
- Median household income: $57,703
Georgia
- Average household income: $85,691
- Median household income: $61,224
Hawaii
- Average household income: $107,348
- Median household income: $83,173
Idaho
- Average household income: $77,399
- Median household income: $58,915
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Illinois
- Average household income: $95,115
- Median household income: $68,428
Indiana
- Average household income: $76,984
- Median household income: $58,235
Iowa
- Average household income: $80,316
- Median household income: $61,836
Kansas
- Average household income: $82,103
- Median household income: $61,091
Kentucky
- Average household income: $72,318
- Median household income: $52,238
Louisiana
- Average household income: $73,759
- Median household income: $50,800
Maine
- Average household income: $78,301
- Median household income: $59,489
Maryland
- Average household income: $114,236
- Median household income: $87,063
Massachusetts
- Average household income: $115,964
- Median household income: $84,385
Michigan
- Average household income: $80,803
- Median household income: $59,234
Minnesota
- Average household income: $96,814
- Median household income: $73,382
Mississippi
- Average household income: $65,156
- Median household income: $46,511
Missouri
- Average household income: $78,194
- Median household income: $57,290
Montana
- Average household income: $76,834
- Median household income: $56,539
Nebraska
- Average household income: $82,306
- Median household income: $63,015
Nevada
- Average household income: $84,350
- Median household income: $62,043
New Hampshire
- Average household income: $101,292
- Median household income: $77,923
New Jersey
- Average household income: $117,868
- Median household income: $85,245
New Mexico
- Average household income: $70,241
- Median household income: $51,243
New York
- Average household income: $105,304
- Median household income: $71,117
North Carolina
- Average household income: $79,620
- Median household income: $56,642
North Dakota
- Average household income: $85,506
- Median household income: $65,315
Ohio
- Average household income: $78,797
- Median household income: $58,116
Oklahoma
- Average household income: $74,195
- Median household income: $53,840
Oregon
- Average household income: $88,137
- Median household income: $65,667
Pennsylvania
- Average household income: $87,262
- Median household income: $63,627
Rhode Island
- Average household income: $92,427
- Median household income: $70,305
South Carolina
- Average household income: $76,390
- Median household income: $54,864
South Dakota
- Average household income: $77,932
- Median household income: $59,896
Tennessee
- Average household income: $76,937
- Median household income: $54,833
Texas
- Average household income: $89,506
- Median household income: $63,826
Utah
- Average household income: $94,452
- Median household income: $74,197
Vermont
- Average household income: $83,767
- Median household income: $63,477
Virginia
- Average household income: $106,023
- Median household income: $76,398
Washington
- Average household income: $103,669
- Median household income: $77,006
West Virginia
- Average household income: $65,332
- Median household income: $48,037
Wisconsin
- Average household income: $82,757
- Median household income: $63,293
Wyoming
- Average household income: $83,583
- Median household income: $65,304
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Jordan Rosenfeld and John Csiszar contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: In order to determine each state’s average income (i.e., mean income), GOBankingRates used the five-year estimates from the 2020 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 were collected and are up to date as of June 22, 2022.