Average US Salary by State

By Jacqueline DeMarco · February 16, 2023 · 5 minute read

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Average US Salary by State

The average salary in the U.S. is $60,575, 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.

Let’s take a closer look at the average salary in the U.S. and how income varies from state to state.

What Is the Average US Salary (2022)

The national average salary is $60,575. That is the sum of all incomes divided by the number of workers. Where someone lives, their industry, education level, and current demand for that job all contribute to how much a worker earns per year.

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Average Salary vs Median Salary: What’s the Difference?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data on median pay. As of Q4 2022, the median weekly earnings of full-time workers was $1,085, or $56,420 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, 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 2022

The following chart shows both the average and median income (in single income households) in each state and Washington, D.C.

State

Average

Median

Alabama $44,930 $52,138
Alaska $59,290 $67,010
Arizona $50,930 $58,462
Arkansas $42,690 $48,882
California $61,290 $65,895
Colorado $57,690 $70,952
Connecticut $62,350 $72,497
Delaware $54,370 $65,072
District of Columbia $89,800 $74,266
Florida $47,750 $55,681
Georgia $49,620 $55,600
Hawaii $54,930 $54,942
Idaho $44,890 $61,456
Illinois $55,130 $54,785
Indiana $46,770 $54,155
Iowa $47,330 $55,069
Kansas $46,520 $51,978
Kentucky $44,020 $49,719
Louisiana $44,170 $57,955
Maine $48,470 $75,214
Maryland $60,230 $75,077
Massachusetts $65,680 $56,343
Michigan $50,780 $65,514
Minnesota $55,890 $47,446
Mississippi $40,090 $53,547
Missouri $47,820 $57,448
Montana $45,370 $53,892
Nebraska $48,250 $56,949
Nevada $47,210 $75,432
New Hampshire $53,950 $75,321
New Jersey $59,980 $49,757
New Mexico $47,040 $63,548
New York $63,970 $53,687
North Carolina $48,550 $58,318
North Dakota $50,430 $54,877
Ohio $49,430 $51,435
Oklahoma $45,620 $64,975
Oregon $53,890 $60,640
Pennsylvania $51,340 $67,541
Rhode Island $57,220 $54,821
South Carolina $44,380 $53,188
South Dakota $42,920 $55,441
Tennessee $45,650 $70,425
Texas $50,490 $58,728
Utah $49,420 $67,918
Vermont $51,120 $74,398
Virginia $56,740 $57,934
Washington $62,020 $60,510
West Virginia $43,420 $53,244
Wisconsin $48,850 $57,934
Wyoming $49,760 $60,510

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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:

•   Massachusett

•   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.

Which Regions Pay the Least?

The South is home to states that tend to pay the least:

•   South Carolina

•   Kentucky

•   South Dakota

•   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.

Should You Move to Make More Money?

When deciding where to live, it’s important to remember that just because a state has a higher average salary, 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 can help you pay down debt, increase savings, and become more conscious of how lifestyle choices affect spending.

Recommended: What Is Financial Minimalism?

The Takeaway

The average annual average salary in the U.S. is $60,575. The median annual salary, which is often less skewed by outlying numbers, is $56,420. 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 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.

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FAQ

How much do the top 10% of Americans make per year?

The top 10% of Americans earn $173,176 per year. Some top earners live in higher cost of living areas, so it can be more revealing to see how much the top 10% earn in your state.

What percentage of Americans make over 75K?

Only 12.2% of Americans make in the $75,000 to $99,999 range. An additional 15.3% make between $100,000 and $149,000. The great percentage of Americans (16.5%) earn in the $50,000 to $74,999 range.

Which U.S. state has the highest salary

Massachusetts is the state with the highest annual income of $72,940. This salary is significantly more than the national average salary of $60,575.


Photo credit: iStock/artpipi

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