American credit card debt topped $1.14 trillion in 2026. But balances vary dramatically by state — residents in the most indebted states carry more than double the balances of those in the least indebted states. Here’s the full breakdown.
Table of Contents
Average Credit Card Debt by State (All 50 States)
| Rank | State | Avg. Credit Card Debt | Avg. Credit Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $10,800 | 711 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $9,408 | 725 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $9,201 | 722 |
| 4 | Virginia | $8,945 | 718 |
| 5 | Maryland | $8,890 | 715 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $8,750 | 729 |
| 7 | Colorado | $8,680 | 726 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $8,620 | 731 |
| 9 | California | $8,510 | 716 |
| 10 | New York | $8,390 | 718 |
| 11 | Texas | $8,260 | 688 |
| 12 | Washington | $8,180 | 730 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $8,100 | 733 |
| 14 | Georgia | $7,990 | 689 |
| 15 | Illinois | $7,880 | 713 |
| 16 | Florida | $7,840 | 700 |
| 17 | Nevada | $7,780 | 692 |
| 18 | Oregon | $7,650 | 728 |
| 19 | Arizona | $7,620 | 706 |
| 20 | Utah | $7,500 | 722 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $7,460 | 718 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $7,380 | 720 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $7,320 | 701 |
| 24 | Delaware | $7,280 | 712 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $7,200 | 742 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $7,150 | 690 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $7,080 | 698 |
| 28 | Michigan | $6,950 | 710 |
| 29 | Ohio | $6,880 | 712 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $6,810 | 728 |
| 31 | Montana | $6,750 | 725 |
| 32 | Kansas | $6,700 | 720 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $6,680 | 684 |
| 34 | Alabama | $6,620 | 686 |
| 35 | Missouri | $6,580 | 710 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $6,520 | 690 |
| 37 | Indiana | $6,480 | 708 |
| 38 | Maine | $6,420 | 726 |
| 39 | Idaho | $6,380 | 722 |
| 40 | Vermont | $6,300 | 736 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $6,250 | 735 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $6,180 | 723 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $6,100 | 734 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $5,980 | 691 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $5,920 | 698 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $5,850 | 693 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $5,680 | 700 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $5,510 | 680 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $5,380 | 737 |
| 50 | Iowa | $5,200 | 729 |
National Credit Card Debt Overview
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total US credit card debt | $1.14 trillion |
| Average debt per cardholder | $6,580 |
| Average debt per household | $10,170 |
| Median credit card debt | $3,000 |
| Average APR | 22.8% |
| Cards per person (average) | 3.9 |
The gap between average ($6,580) and median ($3,000) shows that high-balance cardholders skew the average significantly.
Average Credit Card Debt by Age
| Age Group | Average Balance | % Carrying a Balance |
|---|---|---|
| 18–25 | $2,850 | 42% |
| 26–35 | $5,690 | 52% |
| 36–45 | $7,840 | 55% |
| 46–55 | $8,230 | 49% |
| 56–65 | $7,150 | 42% |
| 66–75 | $5,980 | 33% |
| 76+ | $4,100 | 24% |
Balances peak in the 46-55 age range, when expenses for children, housing, and lifestyle are at their highest.
Credit Card Debt by Income Level
| Household Income | Avg. CC Debt | Debt-to-Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $25,000 | $3,200 | 15.4% |
| $25,000–$49,999 | $5,100 | 13.8% |
| $50,000–$74,999 | $6,400 | 10.2% |
| $75,000–$99,999 | $7,800 | 9.0% |
| $100,000–$149,999 | $9,200 | 7.4% |
| $150,000+ | $12,500 | 5.6% |
Higher-income households carry higher absolute balances but lower debt-to-income ratios. Lower-income households face the worst combination: high interest rates and less margin for error.
Why Some States Have More Credit Card Debt
Several factors drive state-level differences:
- Cost of living — High-cost states (CT, NJ, CA, HI) force more spending onto credit cards
- Income levels — Higher incomes qualify for higher credit limits, enabling larger balances
- Financial culture — States with stronger credit unions and community banking tend to have lower revolving debt
- Urban vs. rural — Urban populations carry higher balances due to higher expenses
- Consumer protection laws — Some states have stronger usury laws that limit interest rate escalation
The True Cost of Carrying a Balance
At the average APR of 22.8%, credit card debt accumulates rapidly:
| Starting Balance | Min. Payment Only | Time to Pay Off | Total Interest Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $75/month | 5.5 years | $1,950 |
| $6,580 | $165/month | 6.2 years | $4,680 |
| $10,000 | $250/month | 6.8 years | $7,400 |
| $20,000 | $500/month | 7.2 years | $15,300 |
Making only minimum payments on the average balance of $6,580 costs an additional $4,680 in interest — 71% of the original balance.
How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt Faster
The Avalanche Method
- List all cards from highest to lowest APR
- Pay minimums on everything
- Put all extra money toward the highest-APR card
- Repeat until debt-free
This method saves the most in interest.
The Snowball Method
- List all cards from smallest to largest balance
- Pay minimums on everything
- Put all extra money toward the smallest balance
- Repeat until debt-free
This method provides psychological wins. Try our Debt Snowball Calculator to see your payoff timeline.
Balance Transfers
0% APR balance transfer cards can save thousands in interest. The math:
- Transfer $6,580 to a 0% APR card (21-month offer)
- 3% transfer fee: $197
- Monthly payment needed: $314/month to pay off in 21 months
- Interest saved vs. 22.8% APR: ~$2,800
Debt Consolidation
Personal loan rates (8-15%) are significantly lower than credit card rates (20-25%+), and the fixed monthly payment provides a clear payoff date.
Credit Card Debt Trends
| Year | Total US CC Debt | Avg. Per Cardholder |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $930 billion | $5,700 |
| 2020 | $820 billion | $5,200 |
| 2021 | $860 billion | $5,550 |
| 2022 | $986 billion | $5,910 |
| 2023 | $1.08 trillion | $6,360 |
| 2024 | $1.10 trillion | $6,470 |
| 2026 | $1.14 trillion | $6,580 |
Credit card debt briefly fell in 2020 due to stimulus payments and reduced spending, but has since surged past pre-pandemic levels.
Related: Average American Debt | Average Credit Score by State | Debt Snowball Calculator | Average Income by State
