Minimum Salary You Need to Be Happy in Every State
In the U.S., the salary for happiness in 2018 is $105,000.
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Can money buy happiness? According to a recent Purdue study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, income can correlate with emotional well-being and life satisfaction.
“Globally, we find that satiation occurs at $95,000 for life evaluation and $60,000 to $75,000 for emotional well-being,” said the study’s authors in the journal. However, the study also found that the ideal income for life satisfaction in North America is $105,000, as reported by Inc.
To estimate how much money you might need to be satisfied or happy in every U.S. state, GOBankingRates factored in each state’s cost of living index and used the $105,000 figure as the “benchmark.” We also included unemployment and crime rates for many states for informational purposes. It’s important to keep in mind that “happiness” is subjective, and the cost to live comfortably can vary from person to person.
Alabama
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $93,240
Lower-than-average living costs mean you might not need to make $105,000 to be happy in Alabama. The state requires the fourth-lowest salary for happiness, and it’s one of the cheapest states to retire comfortably in, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.
Alaska
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $137,445
Alaska is one of the states with a high cost of living, so you’ll need the fourth-highest salary to be happy there. On the plus side, the state has the fifth-lowest property crime rate in the U.S.
Arizona
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $99,330
The good news is that Arizona has a relatively low salary requirement to be happy, but the bad news is that the state is tied with two others for the fifth-highest unemployment rate in the U.S. It’s one of the worst states to live in if you’re unemployed and want a job, another GOBankingRates study found.
Arkansas
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $93,240
Arkansas is tied with Alabama for the state with the fourth-lowest salary needed to be happy. As a bonus, it might not be as hard to land a job to get you that salary: The state is tied with Massachusetts, Montana and Tennessee on the lower end of unemployment rates in the U.S.
California
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $148,050
You’ll need to make a lot of dough to lead a satisfying life in California. The Golden State has the second-highest minimum salary needed to be happy out of all 50 states. It also has one of the higher unemployment rates in the country.
Colorado
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $109,095
Bad news for Colorado residents who want to be happy: The salary required is higher than average. As a positive, though, Colorado has the sixth-lowest property crime rate overall and the sixth-highest unemployment rate in the country.
Connecticut
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $133,455
Northeast states tend to have a high cost of living, and Connecticut is no exception. Because living costs are high, you’ll need to make the eighth-highest salary of all the states to be happy living in this state. On the plus side, the state has the lowest property crime rate in the U.S.
Delaware
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $110,670
Delaware has a high cost of living, but it has the 10th-lowest property crime rate. It seems low crime rates haven’t contributed much to the state’s overall happiness, as it ranked No. 27 in a recent WalletHub ranking of happiest states; it got especially low scores in the “community and environment” category.
Florida
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $103,845
Although Florida’s 3.7 percent unemployment rate lands in the middle of all U.S. states, it can still be hard to find a satisfying job in the Sunshine State.
Georgia
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,340
In Georgia, you’ll need just over $95,000 to be happy. It’s the state with the eighth-lowest salary needed to feel satisfied with life. A separate study conducted by Gallup and Sharecare found that the amount needed to be happy in Atlanta is even lower: $42,000 a year.
Hawaii
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $195,615
Happiness doesn’t come cheap in Hawaii: It’s the state with the highest minimum salary needed to be happy. The Aloha State does offer the lowest unemployment rate in the country to raise your spirits, however.
Idaho
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $97,335
Idaho has a lot of pros besides a lower minimum salary needed to be happy. The unemployment rate is tied with two other states for the fifth-lowest rate in the U.S., and it has the eighth-lowest property crime rate.
Illinois
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $101,535
Illinois has a lower-than-average cost of living, but it also has one of the higher unemployment rates in the U.S. If you want to be happiest in Illinois, consider living in Mahomet — it’s the happiest place in the Prairie State, according to Zippia.
Indiana
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $96,075
Costs of living are generally low in Indiana. Although you need to make over $96,000 to be happy in Indiana, you only need to make $44,520 to afford rent in the state, a separate GOBankingRates study found.
Iowa
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $96,495
WalletHub named Iowa the eighth-happiest state in the country, with especially high scores for “emotional and physical well-being.” This comes as no surprise when you consider that Iowa has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the U.S. on top of having a lower cost of living.
Kansas
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $93,975
Kansas has the seventh-lowest minimum salary needed to be happy of all the states, and it also has the seventh-lowest property crime rate. It’s an especially happy place to be a small-business owner, local news station WIBW reported based on a National Federation of Small Businesses study that found that optimism is soaring among this group.
Kentucky
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $97,230
Kentucky has low living costs and it has the fourth-lowest property crime rate in the U.S., both of which can contribute positively to feelings of life satisfaction.
Learn: Best and Worst States If You’re Unemployed — and Want a Job
Louisiana
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $98,070
Happiness if relatively affordable in Louisiana, but the state has the third-highest unemployment rate overall. On the plus side, it has the second-lowest property crime rate in the country.
Maine
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $122,115
Maine has the 10th-lowest unemployment rate in the U.S., which is good news since job satisfaction is a big part of overall happiness.
Maryland
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $136,920
Maryland has the fifth-highest salary needed to be happy out of all 50 states, and it’s tied for the ninth-highest unemployment rate in the country. As a positive, it has the ninth-lowest property crime rate in the U.S.
Massachusetts
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $133,980
If you live in Massachusetts, the salary you need to be happy is the seventh highest of all the states. And Massachusetts also has the 13th-lowest unemployment rate and the eighth-highest property crime rate in the U.S.
Michigan
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $93,135
You’ll only need a bit over $93,000 to be happy in Michigan — it’s the state with the third-lowest salary needed for life satisfaction. However, it is tied with a few other states for the 10th-highest unemployment rate.
Minnesota
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $105,210
The salary you need to be happy in Minnesota is just about average. But finding a job there should be easier, as the state boasts the sixth-lowest unemployment rate in the U.S., tied with Colorado.
Mississippi
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $88,200
A little goes a long way in Mississippi — it’s the state that requires the lowest salary to feel life satisfaction. The happiest place in the Magnolia State is in Madison, according to Zippia.
Missouri
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $93,345
Missouri is the state with the fifth-lowest minimum salary needed to be happy, and it’s also tied for the 10th-lowest unemployment rate in the U.S.
Montana
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $109,095
Montana has an above-average cost of living, but both its unemployment rate and property crime rate are on the lower end of all U.S. states.
Nebraska
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $98,070
Although you need to make over $98,000 to be happy in Nebraska, you can afford college in the state with a lower salary. The salary required to afford in-state tuition is $70,090, and the salary required to afford out-of-state tuition is $82,130, a separate GOBankingRates study found.
Nevada
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $115,815
You need to make over $115,000 to be happy in Nevada, but you only need to make $55,680 to afford a house in the state, a separate GOBankingRates study found.
New Hampshire
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $117,600
It’s expensive to live in New Hampshire, but it should be easier to find a job there: The state is tied for the fourth-lowest unemployment rate in the country. You can also feel safe living in the state with the third-lowest property crime rate.
New Jersey
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $124,320
If you live in the Garden State, you’ll need to make the 10th-highest salary to be happy compared to the other states. Even though you need to make a lot to be happy there, New Jersey ranked as the No. 13 happiest state in the WalletHub study, with high marks in the “emotional and physical well-being” category.
New Mexico
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $97,545
New Mexico has a relatively low minimum salary needed to be happy, but it’s also the state with the sixth-highest unemployment rate. This might shed a little light on why it was rated as one of the least happy states by WalletHub with low scores for emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment.
New York
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $140,595
As home to one of the most expensive major cities in the U.S., it’s no wonder the Empire State requires the third-highest minimum salary to be happy. And it has the ninth-highest unemployment rate in the country.
North Carolina
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $98,595
It takes less than the average amount to be happy in North Carolina, but suffering a burglary can ding your happiness — and prevent you from making the best use of that salary; the state has the fifth-highest property crime rate in the U.S.
North Dakota
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $103,950
North Dakota has the third-lowest unemployment rate in the U.S., and also has a below-average salary needed to be happy. It was rated as one of the healthiest states — which can also contribute to happiness — in the 2016 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
Ohio
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $97,335
Ohio has the ninth-highest property crime rate in the U.S., but on the plus side, the amount you need to make to be happy there is on the lower end. It also has the most affordable homes in the country.
Oklahoma
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $92,715
Oklahoma requires the second-lowest salary of all the states to be happy, but its unemployment rate ranks right in the middle of all U.S. states, tied with Florida. The WalletHub study also found that it’s one of the least happy U.S. states.
Oregon
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $136,500
You need to make a lot to be happy in this Pacific Northwest state. Oregon has the sixth-highest salary needed to feel satisfied.
Pennsylvania
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $106,260
With the 10th-highest unemployment rate and an above-average salary needed to be happy, it can be hard to find life satisfaction in Pennsylvania. Ironically, the state’s official tourism slogan was “Pennsylvania. Pursue Your Happiness” in 2016, according to an Associated Press report.
Rhode Island
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $128,310
This small state requires a big salary to be happy. The minimum salary needed to feel life satisfaction in Rhode Island is the ninth-highest of all the states. And it also has the seventh-highest property crime rate in the U.S.
South Carolina
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $103,215
South Carolina has the 11th-lowest unemployment rate in the U.S., and the salary needed to be happy in the state is slightly below average. But it does also have the sixth-highest property crime rate.
South Dakota
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $106,260
Although you need a higher-than-average salary to be happy in South Dakota, it’s the second happiest state, a MagnifyMoney study found. Rankings were based on health, lifestyle and economic stability, and South Dakota came out as No. 1 for health.
Tennessee
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $93,870
If you want to be happy for less, consider moving to Tennessee, which has the sixth-lowest salary needed to feel satisfied compared to the other states. More good news: The state’s unemployment rate is within the lower half of all U.S. states listed. On the negative side, it has the second-highest property crime rate.
Texas
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,865
Not everything is bigger in Texas. The Lone Star State has the ninth-lowest salary needed to be happy compared to the other U.S. states. Both its unemployment rate and property crime rate rank in the middle, making it neither the best nor worst state for personal happiness.
Utah
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $101,430
Utah has the eighth-lowest unemployment rate in the U.S. and the salary needed to be happy there is below average. Overall, it’s a happy state with the fewest hours worked, highest volunteer rate and lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, the WalletHub study found.
Vermont
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $123,270
You need to make a lot of money to be happy in Vermont, but on the plus side, the state tied for the fifth-lowest unemployment rate, so you’ll likely be able to find a job that can help you reach your salary goals. However, it also has the 10th-highest property crime rate, so your safety could be at risk.
Virginia
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $107,205
Although Virginia requires an above average salary to be happy, it did tie with South Dakota and Wisconsin for the seventh-lowest unemployment rate. People are particularly happy in Charlottesville, a UVA report found.
Washington
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $113,715
Washington has above average living costs, the fourth-highest property crime rate and the sixth-highest unemployment rate in the U.S. But there is one bit of good news: According to the WalletHub study, Washington has one of the best work environments in the country.
West Virginia
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $101,640
You’ll need to make just over $100,000 to be happy in West Virginia. If your goal is to have a take-home salary of $100,000 in the state, your actual salary should be $145,682, a separate GOBankingRates study found.
Wisconsin
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $101,115
Being gainfully employed can certainly contribute to your happiness, and in Wisconsin, you have a good chance of having a job — it’s tied for the seventh-lowest unemployment rate. However, it also has the highest property crime rate, so you could find yourself the victim of a burglary, which could negatively impact your happiness.
Wyoming
- Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,970
Wyoming has the 10th-lowest salary needed to be happy of all the states, but it also has the third-highest property crime rate. Ranchettes is the happiest place in Wyoming, according to Zippia.
Minimum Salary Needed to Be Happy in Every State
Does money buy happiness? It seems like it can — if you make enough of it. Of course, “enough” varies depending on where you live. The states that require the highest salaries to be happy are:
- Hawaii
- California
- New York
- Alaska
- Maryland
The states that require the lowest salaries to be happy are:
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Michigan
- Arkansas
- Alabama
Click through to find out why Americans say being “rich” isn’t about the money.
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Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the minimum salary based on the $105,000 “benchmark, calculated by Purdue University research, and then factored in each state’s cost of living index, sourced from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, to estimate the ideal income for each state. We also included the unemployment rates sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics along with crime rates from NeighborhoodScout.com for many states (for informational purposes only).
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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