What is the average salary in the US?

The average (mean) annual wage across all US jobs was $69,770 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median, what the typical worker earns, was $50,980. The mean is higher because a minority of very high earners pull it up.

What state has the highest average salary?

Among the 50 states, Massachusetts has the highest average wage at $85,610, followed by Washington ($83,330) and New York ($82,460), per BLS May 2025 data. The District of Columbia is higher still at $111,010, but it is a city rather than a state.

What state has the lowest average salary?

Mississippi has the lowest average wage at $50,810, followed by Arkansas ($54,890) and West Virginia ($56,470), per BLS May 2025 data. All three also have living costs below the national average.

Which state offers the best salary after adjusting for cost of living?

Minnesota does: its median wage of $56,920 is worth about $60,940 once you account for living costs 6.6% below the national average. Colorado and North Dakota come next. Hawaii, California and Massachusetts rank lowest because their high costs outweigh their high pay.

Which states have no income tax?

Nine states do not tax wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. See our guide to states with no income tax for how they raise revenue instead.

Is $70,000 a good salary in the US?

$70,000 is right at the national average wage ($69,770) and above about 64% of individual incomes. How far it goes depends on the state: it buys noticeably more in low-cost states such as Oklahoma or Alabama than in Massachusetts, California or Hawaii.

Average Salary by State (2026): All 50 States Ranked

The average salary in the US is $69,770 and the median is $50,980, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 wage survey. Among the 50 states, Massachusetts pays the most on average ($85,610) and Mississippi the least ($50,810). Once you account for what things cost in each state, the order changes a lot: Massachusetts drops to 48th of 50 and Minnesota comes out on top.

Average Salary by State (Ranked)

The table ranks every state by mean (average) annual wage across all jobs. The cost of living index comes from MERIC, where 100 is the national average: 110 means a state is 10% more expensive than average. The last column shows what the state’s median wage is worth at national prices.

Rank	State	Mean pay	Median pay	Cost of living index	Median adjusted for cost of living
—	District of Columbia	$111,010	$91,540	133.8	$68,416
1	Massachusetts	$85,610	$63,590	148.1	$42,937
2	Washington	$83,330	$62,990	115.1	$54,726
3	New York	$82,460	$59,670	132.6	$45,000
4	California	$80,690	$58,240	140.3	$41,511
5	New Jersey	$78,040	$58,570	119.2	$49,136
6	Maryland	$77,580	$59,510	118.8	$50,093
7	Connecticut	$77,420	$59,690	103.6	$57,616
8	Colorado	$77,190	$59,800	102.7	$58,228
9	Alaska	$74,720	$61,000	124.5	$48,996
10	Virginia	$74,040	$55,690	99.0	$56,253
11	Oregon	$72,460	$57,000	110.4	$51,630
12	Rhode Island	$71,900	$56,780	110.9	$51,199
13	New Hampshire	$71,360	$55,880	108.5	$51,502
14	Minnesota	$71,160	$56,920	93.4	$60,942
15	Illinois	$71,130	$51,960	94.5	$54,984
16	Hawaii	$70,270	$56,320	185.8	$30,312
17	Delaware	$69,880	$52,190	100.6	$51,879
18	Vermont	$69,050	$56,390	113.4	$49,727
19	Arizona	$67,620	$50,060	108.6	$46,096
20	Utah	$66,290	$50,110	98.4	$50,925
21	Georgia	$65,920	$48,170	90.1	$53,463
22	Maine	$65,780	$51,430	112.9	$45,554
23	Texas	$65,750	$48,620	90.8	$53,546
24	Pennsylvania	$65,730	$49,690	95.3	$52,141
25	Michigan	$64,920	$49,270	92.1	$53,496
26	Florida	$64,670	$47,880	100.8	$47,500
27	Ohio	$64,390	$49,380	93.0	$53,097
28	North Carolina	$64,290	$47,970	96.7	$49,607
29	Wisconsin	$64,270	$50,270	95.7	$52,529
30	North Dakota	$64,050	$52,480	90.5	$57,989
31	Nebraska	$62,400	$48,980	90.1	$54,362
32	New Mexico	$62,330	$47,210	90.2	$52,339
33	Missouri	$62,160	$47,800	88.2	$54,195
34	Nevada	$62,050	$47,660	105.4	$45,218
35	Wyoming	$61,560	$50,270	94.4	$53,252
36	Idaho	$61,170	$47,970	99.4	$48,260
37	Montana	$60,880	$48,740	106.0	$45,981
38	Indiana	$60,840	$47,860	89.7	$53,356
39	Tennessee	$60,800	$47,380	89.7	$52,821
40	Kansas	$60,640	$48,010	87.1	$55,121
41	Iowa	$59,830	$48,540	86.1	$56,376
42	South Carolina	$59,280	$46,490	92.7	$50,151
43	Kentucky	$58,990	$46,920	94.0	$49,915
44	South Dakota	$57,610	$47,080	93.5	$50,353
45	Alabama	$57,500	$45,670	86.0	$53,105
46	Oklahoma	$56,950	$45,600	83.0	$54,940
47	Louisiana	$56,600	$45,520	91.3	$49,858
48	West Virginia	$56,470	$45,300	87.0	$52,069
49	Arkansas	$54,890	$43,630	89.0	$49,022
50	Mississippi	$50,810	$40,120	87.4	$45,904
—	United States	$69,770	$50,980	100.0	$50,980

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all occupations (fetched 2026-09-29); MERIC cost of living index, Second Quarter 2026 (100 = US average). Adjusted = median pay ÷ (index ÷ 100).

Why mean vs. median matters: Nationally the mean wage ($69,770) is $18,790 higher than the median ($50,980). A relatively small share of workers earning well into six figures pulls the mean up, so the median is the better guide to what a typical worker earns.

Best States for Salary (Cost-of-Living Adjusted)

These ten states give the typical worker the most purchasing power once living costs are taken into account.

Rank	State	Median pay	Cost of living index	Median adjusted for cost of living
1	Minnesota	$56,920	93.4	$60,942
2	Colorado	$59,800	102.7	$58,228
3	North Dakota	$52,480	90.5	$57,989
4	Connecticut	$59,690	103.6	$57,616
5	Iowa	$48,540	86.1	$56,376
6	Virginia	$55,690	99.0	$56,253
7	Kansas	$48,010	87.1	$55,121
8	Illinois	$51,960	94.5	$54,984
9	Oklahoma	$45,600	83.0	$54,940
10	Washington	$62,990	115.1	$54,726

Minnesota leads because it pairs an above-average median wage ($56,920) with living costs below the national average (index 93.4). Colorado and Connecticut make the list despite costing slightly more than average, and Washington despite costing 15% more, because their wages are high enough to cover the difference. Oklahoma is the cheapest state in the index (83.0), which lifts a modest $45,600 median into the top ten.

Worst States for Salary (Cost-of-Living Adjusted)

Rank	State	Median pay	Cost of living index	Median adjusted for cost of living
1	Hawaii	$56,320	185.8	$30,312
2	California	$58,240	140.3	$41,511
3	Massachusetts	$63,590	148.1	$42,937
4	New York	$59,670	132.6	$45,000
5	Nevada	$47,660	105.4	$45,218
6	Maine	$51,430	112.9	$45,554
7	Mississippi	$40,120	87.4	$45,904
8	Montana	$48,740	106.0	$45,981
9	Arizona	$50,060	108.6	$46,096
10	Florida	$47,880	100.8	$47,500

Hawaii is the outlier. Its median wage ($56,320) is above the national figure, but its cost of living index of 185.8 means that wage buys about what $30,300 would buy in an average-cost state. Massachusetts and California have two of the highest average wages in the country and still rank near the bottom, because housing costs there outweigh the higher pay.

Average Salary by Region

States are grouped using the Census Bureau’s four regions and sorted by average wage.

Northeast

State	Mean pay	Median pay	Cost of living index	Median adjusted for cost of living
Massachusetts	$85,610	$63,590	148.1	$42,937
New York	$82,460	$59,670	132.6	$45,000
New Jersey	$78,040	$58,570	119.2	$49,136
Connecticut	$77,420	$59,690	103.6	$57,616
Rhode Island	$71,900	$56,780	110.9	$51,199
New Hampshire	$71,360	$55,880	108.5	$51,502
Vermont	$69,050	$56,390	113.4	$49,727
Maine	$65,780	$51,430	112.9	$45,554
Pennsylvania	$65,730	$49,690	95.3	$52,141

The Northeast has the highest headline pay, led by Massachusetts ($85,610) and New York ($82,460), but also some of the highest living costs. Connecticut keeps the most after costs in the region, because its cost of living (103.6) is close to the national average.

Midwest

State	Mean pay	Median pay	Cost of living index	Median adjusted for cost of living
Minnesota	$71,160	$56,920	93.4	$60,942
Illinois	$71,130	$51,960	94.5	$54,984
Michigan	$64,920	$49,270	92.1	$53,496
Ohio	$64,390	$49,380	93.0	$53,097
Wisconsin	$64,270	$50,270	95.7	$52,529
North Dakota	$64,050	$52,480	90.5	$57,989
Nebraska	$62,400	$48,980	90.1	$54,362
Missouri	$62,160	$47,800	88.2	$54,195
Indiana	$60,840	$47,860	89.7	$53,356
Kansas	$60,640	$48,010	87.1	$55,121
Iowa	$59,830	$48,540	86.1	$56,376
South Dakota	$57,610	$47,080	93.5	$50,353

Every Midwestern state has a cost of living index below 100, so wages go further here than their headline figures suggest. Minnesota has the highest cost-adjusted median wage of any state, and North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas and Illinois are also in the national top ten.

South

State	Mean pay	Median pay	Cost of living index	Median adjusted for cost of living
Maryland	$77,580	$59,510	118.8	$50,093
Virginia	$74,040	$55,690	99.0	$56,253
Delaware	$69,880	$52,190	100.6	$51,879
Georgia	$65,920	$48,170	90.1	$53,463
Texas	$65,750	$48,620	90.8	$53,546
Florida	$64,670	$47,880	100.8	$47,500
North Carolina	$64,290	$47,970	96.7	$49,607
Tennessee	$60,800	$47,380	89.7	$52,821
South Carolina	$59,280	$46,490	92.7	$50,151
Kentucky	$58,990	$46,920	94.0	$49,915
Alabama	$57,500	$45,670	86.0	$53,105
Oklahoma	$56,950	$45,600	83.0	$54,940
Louisiana	$56,600	$45,520	91.3	$49,858
West Virginia	$56,470	$45,300	87.0	$52,069
Arkansas	$54,890	$43,630	89.0	$49,022
Mississippi	$50,810	$40,120	87.4	$45,904

Maryland and Virginia have the South’s highest wages, driven by federal government and contracting jobs around Washington, D.C. Most of the region has below-average living costs, but Maryland (118.8), Florida (100.8) and Delaware (100.6) are the exceptions. Texas combines a mid-table wage with low costs (90.8) and no state income tax.

West

State	Mean pay	Median pay	Cost of living index	Median adjusted for cost of living
Washington	$83,330	$62,990	115.1	$54,726
California	$80,690	$58,240	140.3	$41,511
Colorado	$77,190	$59,800	102.7	$58,228
Alaska	$74,720	$61,000	124.5	$48,996
Oregon	$72,460	$57,000	110.4	$51,630
Hawaii	$70,270	$56,320	185.8	$30,312
Arizona	$67,620	$50,060	108.6	$46,096
Utah	$66,290	$50,110	98.4	$50,925
New Mexico	$62,330	$47,210	90.2	$52,339
Nevada	$62,050	$47,660	105.4	$45,218
Wyoming	$61,560	$50,270	94.4	$53,252
Idaho	$61,170	$47,970	99.4	$48,260
Montana	$60,880	$48,740	106.0	$45,981

Washington has the highest average wage in the West ($83,330) and no state income tax, although its living costs are 15% above average. Colorado ranks second nationally on cost-adjusted pay, behind Minnesota. California and Hawaii are the region’s most expensive states and rank near the bottom once costs are counted.

What is a good salary in your state?

A practical benchmark is your state’s median household income: earning at or above it puts a household in the upper half for that state. The table below lists every state’s median and average household income from the Census Bureau.

State	Median Income (Dollars)	Average Income (Dollars)
Alabama	$63,999	$88,898
Alaska	$92,788	$118,985
Arizona	$79,964	$108,273
Arkansas	$60,773	$84,759
California	$99,122	$140,436
Colorado	$95,470	$128,255
Connecticut	$95,781	$138,744
Delaware	$84,954	$112,616
District of Columbia	$109,870	$162,297
Florida	$74,568	$105,967
Georgia	$77,353	$106,944
Hawaii	$100,389	$131,053
Idaho	$77,800	$102,747
Illinois	$83,390	$115,638
Indiana	$71,957	$95,247
Iowa	$75,059	$98,187
Kansas	$74,275	$100,417
Kentucky	$63,726	$87,807
Louisiana	$60,756	$87,038
Maine	$74,733	$100,102
Maryland	$103,678	$136,642
Massachusetts	$103,960	$144,950
Michigan	$72,875	$98,700
Minnesota	$89,062	$118,304
Mississippi	$56,447	$78,922
Missouri	$70,702	$96,247
Montana	$72,509	$98,908
Nebraska	$76,475	$102,399
Nevada	$78,260	$106,475
New Hampshire	$99,031	$128,322
New Jersey	$103,556	$143,363
New Mexico	$64,059	$88,155
New York	$85,974	$128,247
North Carolina	$72,388	$101,208
North Dakota	$76,657	$101,793
Ohio	$71,389	$96,990
Oklahoma	$65,039	$88,936
Oregon	$83,011	$111,542
Pennsylvania	$77,971	$107,538
Rhode Island	$87,796	$115,075
South Carolina	$69,324	$95,567
South Dakota	$75,081	$98,527
Tennessee	$69,595	$96,820
Texas	$78,476	$109,933
Utah	$95,166	$121,376
Vermont	$81,203	$107,852
Virginia	$93,170	$128,260
Washington	$98,141	$134,588
West Virginia	$59,608	$81,190
Wisconsin	$77,485	$101,466
Wyoming	$76,176	$100,641

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, fetched 2026-08-25.

Salary Plus State Tax Considerations

Cost of living is not the only thing that separates a salary in one state from the same salary in another. State income tax takes a further bite in most states.

Nine states do not tax wages at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. The other states tax wages at rates that range from a flat few percent to top rates above 10% in California. For current rates and brackets, see state income tax rates and states with no income tax.

A high state income tax does not automatically make a state a poor choice. New York and California still draw workers because of their concentration of high-paying employers. Treat the tax as one cost to weigh, not as a disqualifier.

How to Compare Job Offers Across States

When you compare a salary offer in another state, the headline number is the wrong place to start. Work through these four steps instead:

Adjust for cost of living. Divide the salary by the state’s cost of living index as a decimal. A $70,000 offer in California (index 140.3) buys about what $49,900 buys in an average-cost state.
Account for state income tax. Use our income tax calculator to estimate your take-home pay in each state.
Check city-level costs. State figures hide large differences within a state. San Francisco costs far more than Sacramento, even though both are in California.
Consider career growth. A lower salary in a fast-growing city or industry can pay off over five years compared with a higher salary in a stagnant market.

Worked example: Texas vs. California

Factor	California	Texas
Gross salary	$70,000	$58,000
Cost of living index (MERIC, Q2 2026)	140.3	90.8
Purchasing power at national prices	$49,893	$63,877
State income tax on wages	Yes	None

The Texas job pays $12,000 less on paper but buys about $14,000 more, before counting California’s state income tax, which widens the gap further.

Part of the good salary guide.

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Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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