Table of Contents
The average salary in the U.S. is $69,846.57, according to the latest data from the Social Security Administration. How your salary compares will depend on your industry and skilI set, as you’d expect. What you might not realize is that your salary is also greatly influenced by where you live, since salaries go hand in hand with the cost of living.
Here’s a closer look at the average salary in the U.S. and how income varies from state to state.
Key Points
• The average salary in the U.S. varies depending on factors such as occupation, location, and experience.
• Recent data indicates that the average household income is $69,846.57 in the U.S.
• The cost of living and regional differences can impact salary levels across the country.
• High-paying states are typically on the East and West Coasts, while pay tends to be lower in the South.
• It’s important to research salary ranges for specific occupations and locations when considering job opportunities.
What Is the Average US Salary (2026)
The national average salary is $69,846.57. That is the sum of all incomes divided by the number of workers. Where someone lives, their industry, their education level, and the current demand for their job all contribute to how much a worker earns per year.
💡 Quick Tip: Online tools make tracking your spending a breeze: You can easily set up budgets, then get instant updates on your progress, spot upcoming bills, analyze your spending habits, and more.
SoFi Coach℠ Chat is a tool designed to help you view and analyze your financial data, get personalized insights, learn about SoFi products, troubleshoot issues, and take certain actions in chat. Coach responses are information for you to consider and not financial advice. Coach responses are based on limited information from your connected accounts and may have inaccuracies. The insights are meant to help you think about your finances and options —they are not advice or recommendations, and they do not guarantee results. Coach may offer you options to explore SoFi products on which SoFi would earn revenue. You are solely responsible for any financial decisions you make. Coach is offered by Social Finance, LLC.
Average Salary vs Median Salary: What’s the Difference?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides data on median pay. As of Q2 2026, the median weekly earnings of full-time workers was $1,251, or $65,052 per year. The median is the midpoint in the data set, with 50% of incomes falling above that figure and 50% below.
Why are the average and median income figures different? With averages, unusually high or low numbers can skew the results. For instance, multi-millionaires or billionaires might drive the average higher than what the typical worker actually makes. The median is less affected by outliers.
US Average and Median Salary by State in 2026
The following chart shows both the average and median incomes (in single-income households) in each state, according to data from Forbes and the U.S. Census Bureau.
| State | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,350 | $66,659 |
| Alaska | $72,810 | $95,665 |
| Arizona | $65,740 | $81,486 |
| Arkansas | $53,070 | $62,106 |
| California | $79,900 | $100,149 |
| Colorado | $75,560 | $97,113 |
| Connecticut | $76,050 | $96,049 |
| Delaware | $67,640 | $87,534 |
| Florida | $62,990 | $77,735 |
| Georgia | $64,210 | $79,991 |
| Hawaii | $68,280 | $100,745 |
| Idaho | $58,440 | $81,166 |
| Illinois | $69,020 | $83,211 |
| Indiana | $58,800 | $71,959 |
| Iowa | $58,350 | $75,501 |
| Kansas | $58,230 | $75,514 |
| Kentucky | $56,310 | $64,526 |
| Louisiana | $55,130 | $60,986 |
| Maine | $63,760 | $76,442 |
| Maryland | $76,130 | $102,905 |
| Massachusetts | $83,050 | $104,828 |
| Michigan | $63,120 | $72,389 |
| Minnesota | $68,880 | $87,117 |
| Mississippi | $49,740 | $59,127 |
| Missouri | $59,630 | $71,589 |
| Montana | $58,160 | $75,340 |
| Nebraska | $60,230 | $76,376 |
| Nevada | $60,310 | $81,134 |
| New Hampshire | $68,800 | $99,782 |
| New Jersey | $76,320 | $104,294 |
| New Mexico | $60,290 | $67,816 |
| New York | $80,630 | $85,820 |
| North Carolina | $62,440 | $73,958 |
| North Dakota | $61,810 | $77,871 |
| Ohio | $62,280 | $72,212 |
| Oklahoma | $54,960 | $66,148 |
| Oregon | $70,290 | $85,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,690 | $77,545 |
| Rhode Island | $69,270 | $83,504 |
| South Carolina | $56,990 | $72,350 |
| South Dakota | $55,480 | $76,881 |
| Tennessee | $58,700 | $71,997 |
| Texas | $63,660 | $79,721 |
| Utah | $63,960 | $96,658 |
| Vermont | $66,330 | $82,730 |
| Virginia | $72,060 | $92,090 |
| Washington | $81,550 | $99,389 |
| West Virginia | $54,940 | $60,798 |
| Wisconsin | $61,690 | $77,488 |
| Wyoming | $60,200 | $75,532 |
Recommended: Salary to Hourly Calculator
Why Do States Have Different Average Salaries?
The chart shows that the average salary in some states is quite different from the average salary nationwide. That’s partly because the cost of living, which affects how much a company pays its employees, varies significantly by state.
Also, inflation impacts states to varying degrees.
In addition, industries with a concentrated presence in certain states, such as banking or automobile manufacturing, can affect the overall quality of job opportunities in that area.
Which Regions Pay the Most?
Salaries tend to be higher in some areas of the country. Cities on the West Coast and in the Northeast have some of the highest average salaries:
• Massachusetts
• New York
• Washington
• California
• New Jersey
• Connecticut
• Maryland
Remember, while these states have higher incomes, they may also have a much higher cost of living and higher housing prices.
Recommended: 25 Highest-Paying Jobs in the US
Which Regions Pay the Least?
The South is home to states that tend to pay the least:
• South Carolina
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Alabama
• Arkansas
• West Virginia
• Mississippi
To determine what your personal cost of living is, try tracking your expenses with a free budget app for a few months.
Recommended: Biweekly Money-Saving Challenge
Should You Move to Make More Money?
It’s important to remember that just because a state has a higher average salary, that doesn’t mean it’s more profitable for workers to live there. Higher salaries tend to correlate with a higher cost of living.
Before making a major move, first try living below your means. One reason that people who make more money still have trouble paying their bills is the phenomenon of lifestyle creep. This is when your so-called needs expand to consume your current salary.
One of the most effective ways to counteract lifestyle creep is to downsize your home. Reducing your housing expenses to less than 30% of your gross income could help you pay down debt, increase savings, and become more conscious of how lifestyle choices affect spending.
💡 Quick Tip: Income, expenses, and life circumstances can change. Consider reviewing your budget a few times a year and making any adjustments if needed.
The Takeaway
The average annual salary in the U.S. is $69,846.57. The median annual salary, which is often less skewed by outlying numbers, is $65,052. It’s worth noting that average and median salaries vary quite a bit by state. States in the Northeast and on the West Coast tend to pay higher salaries, while those in the South often pay less. What’s stopping people from moving to a higher-paying state? Often, it’s housing prices, which rise along with the cost of living in “richer” states.
Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.
FAQ
How much do the top 10% of Americans make per year?
The top 10% of Americans earn $128,560 per year. Some top earners live in higher cost of living areas, so it could be more revealing to see how much the top 10% earn in your state.
What percentage of Americans make over $75K?
Only 12% of Americans make in the $75,000-$99,999 range. An additional 16.7% make between $100,000 and $149,999, and 15.1% earn in the $50,000-$74,999 range.
Which US state has the highest salary?
Massachusetts is the state with the highest average annual income of $83,050. This salary is significantly more than the national average salary of $69,846.57.
What is a good salary to have in the US?
What’s considered a good or comfortable salary in the U.S. varies. Cost of living and regional differences affect salary levels, so what is considered a high income in one state may not get you as far in another state. With the national average salary being $69,846.57, being around or above that amount can be a good salary depending on your location.
Which US state has the lowest salary?
Generally, states in the South pay the lowest salaries. According to Forbes’ most recent data, Mississippi has the lowest average salary at $49,740, followed by Arkansas at $53,070 and West Virginia at $54,940.
About the author
Jacqueline DeMarco
Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.
Photo credit: iStock/artpipi
SoFi Coach offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery, or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You must confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.
*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
SORL-Q326-026