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.
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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 $106,000. However, Minnesota is not generally considered an expensive place to live, yet average salaries top $93,000 in the state, far above the national average income of $88,607.
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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 2019 American Community Survey. Both mean and median state income figures were tallied. Results are presented in alphabetical order, from Alabama to Wyoming.
Last updated: Sept. 20, 2021
Alabama
- Average household income: $69,842
- Median household income: $50,536
Alaska
- Average household income: $98,606
- Median household income: $77,640
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Arizona
- Average household income: $80,779
- Median household income: $58,945
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Arkansas
- Average household income: $66,557
- Median household income: $47,597
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California
- Average household income: $106,916
- Median household income: $75,235
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Colorado
- Average household income: $96,970
- Median household income: $72,331
Connecticut
- Average household income: $113,031
- Median household income: $78,444
Delaware
- Average household income: $90,092
- Median household income: $68,287
District of Columbia
- Average household income: $127,890
- Median household income: $86,420
Florida
- Average household income: $80,286
- Median household income: $55,660
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Georgia
- Average household income: $82,406
- Median household income: $58,700
Hawaii
- Average household income: $103,780
- Median household income: $81,275
Idaho
- Average household income: $73,810
- Median household income: $55,785
Illinois
- Average household income: $92,395
- Median household income: $65,886
Indiana
- Average household income: $75,025
- Median household income: $56,303
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Iowa
- Average household income: $78,411
- Median household income: $60,523
Kansas
- Average household income: $80,009
- Median household income: $59,597
Kentucky
- Average household income: $70,144
- Median household income: $50,589
Louisiana
- Average household income: $71,001
- Median household income: $49,469
Maine
- Average household income: $76,227
- Median household income: $57,918
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Maryland
- Average household income: $111,417
- Median household income: $84,805
Massachusetts
- Average household income: $111,498
- Median household income: $81,215
Michigan
- Average household income: $78,400
- Median household income: $57,144
Minnesota
- Average household income: $93,925
- Median household income: $71,306
Mississippi
- Average household income: $62,835
- Median household income: $45,081
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Missouri
- Average household income: $76,060
- Median household income: $55,461
Montana
- Average household income: $74,190
- Median household income: $54,970
Nebraska
- Average household income: $80,208
- Median household income: $61,439
Nevada
- Average household income: $81,496
- Median household income: $60,365
New Hampshire
- Average household income: $99,165
- Median household income: $76,768
New Jersey
- Average household income: $114,691
- Median household income: $82,545
New Mexico
- Average household income: $69,077
- Median household income: $49,754
New York
- Average household income: $101,945
- Median household income: $68,486
North Carolina
- Average household income: $76,940
- Median household income: $54,602
North Dakota
- Average household income: $85,476
- Median household income: $64,894
Ohio
- Average household income: $76,958
- Median household income: $56,602
Oklahoma
- Average household income: $72,695
- Median household income: $52,919
Oregon
- Average household income: $84,258
- Median household income: $62,818
Pennsylvania
- Average household income: $84,849
- Median household income: $61,744
Rhode Island
- Average household income: $89,093
- Median household income: $67,167
South Carolina
- Average household income: $73,520
- Median household income: $53,199
South Dakota
- Average household income: $76,240
- Median household income: $58,275
Tennessee
- Average household income: $74,750
- Median household income: $53,320
Texas
- Average household income: $87,260
- Median household income: $61,874
Utah
- Average household income: $91,292
- Median household income: $71,621
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Vermont
- Average household income: $81,233
- Median household income: $61,973
Virginia
- Average household income: $101,746
- Median household income: $74,222
Washington
- Average household income: $98,983
- Median household income: $73,775
West Virginia
- Average household income: $63,680
- Median household income: $46,711
Wisconsin
- Average household income: $80,674
- Median household income: $61,747
Wyoming
- Average household income: $81,880
- Median household income: $64,049
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 2019 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 March 22, 2021.