These 5 States Have the Highest Salaries (2024)

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Move to this state if you want the highest salary.

Key points

  • The states with the highest income are either on the West or East Coast.
  • Massachusetts has the highest average salary in the country.
  • New York, Washington, and California have a high cost of living and are home to a large number of Fortune 500 companies.

Have you ever wondered which states have the highest salaries? According to a recent study, it turns out that certain states in the U.S. offer workers higher wages than others. If you're looking for a job with a higher salary, you may want to consider moving to one of these states. Incomes vary widely based on where you live, and not surprisingly, the states with the highest income are either on the West or East Coast, as you'll see below.

1. Massachusetts: $72,940

Massachusetts is home to over 110 colleges and universities, including Harvard, MIT, and Boston University. As a result, there are many tech companies, research hospitals, and health and medical companies in the state. The state's strong economy and educated workforce contribute to its high wages.

2. New York: $70,460

New York is home to Wall Street and also some of the richest people in the world. The high cost of living in New York State contributes to the high salaries. New York is a great place to find a job in finance, media, or fashion.

3. Washington: $68,740

Washington State is home to Amazon, Costco, Microsoft, Starbucks, Nordstrom, and several more Fortune 500 companies. These companies tend to pay high salaries that also include stock options and dividends.

4. California: $68,510

California is home to Silicon Valley, Hollywood, and over 50 Fortune 500 companies. The high cost of living in California contributes to the high salaries. Especially in Silicon Valley, there is a high demand for workers (such as software engineers) but not enough supply. This drives up both cost of living and salaries.

5. New Jersey: $67,120

New Jersey is home to 15 Fortune 500 companies and also 14 out of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. Like California and New York, the high cost of living in New Jersey is offset by higher wages. In addition, many people who work in New York live in New Jersey.

If you're looking for a raise, you may want to consider relocating to one of these states. These states have the highest salaries and offer many opportunities for well-paying jobs. They have strong economies, which makes them attractive places to live and work. If you're considering relocating to one of these states, be sure to factor in the increased cost of living when making your decision. Your bank account and your budget will thank you.

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David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® is an award-winning entrepreneur and financial planner with over two decades of experience in the personal finance space. He is a graduate of West Point and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard. He has an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

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These 5 States Have the Highest Salaries (2024)

FAQs

These 5 States Have the Highest Salaries? ›

Median earnings: $27,475

Across all ages, Alaska is the top state in the country for take-home pay once cost of living and state taxes are factored in.

What states have the highest salaries? ›

Download Table Data
StateMean Household IncomeMedian Household Income
California$111,622$78,672
Hawaii$107,348$83,173
Virginia$106,023$76,398
New York$105,304$71,117
48 more rows

Which state pays well in USA? ›

Median earnings: $27,475

Across all ages, Alaska is the top state in the country for take-home pay once cost of living and state taxes are factored in.

Which city in U.S. has highest salary? ›

San Francisco is the highest paying city in our job listings, offering careers in entertainment, finance, technology and more.

Are salaries higher in California? ›

California ranks number 8 out of 50 states nationwide for Highest job salaries.

Where are the highest salaries? ›

The worldwide highest income is earned in Monaco. The smallest budget per capita exists in Afghanistan. In our comparison over 69 countries, the USA comes 7th with an average income of 70,930 USD. The average income is calculated by gross national income and population.

Who has the highest salaries in the US? ›

Highest-Paying Occupations
OCCUPATION2022 MEDIAN PAYPERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER NATIONAL MEDIAN
Neurologists$224,260384.30%
Physicians, All Other$223,410382.40%
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$219,810374.60%
General Internal Medicine Physicians$214,460363.10%
17 more rows

Which state has the lowest salary? ›

Currently, 30 states and Washington D.C. have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Five states have not adopted a state minimum wage: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Two states, Georgia and Wyoming, have a minimum wage below $7.25 per hour.

What state pays the most for teachers? ›

1. New York. New York is among the best-paying states for teachers. Reasons include an average annual salary of $92,222 that, although below the state's average income of $107,000, is still more than the salaries paid in other states.

What is US average salary? ›

The national average salary in 2021 was $58,260, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the highest average salary? ›

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.

What state is the best to make the most money? ›

The richest states in the US are New York, Massachusetts, Washington, California, North Dakota, Connecticut, Delaware, Alaska, Nebraska, and Illinois. The richest state in America is New York, with a GDP per capita of $96,502.

Is $30 an hour good in California? ›

California ranks number 34 out of 50 states nationwide for 30$ An Hour job salaries. To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for 30$ An Hour jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

What city in California pays the most? ›

Richest Cities in California Comparison
RankingCityMedian Income
1Los Altos Hills$254,000.00
2Woodside$251,000.00
3Hillsborough$250,001.00
4Los Altos$240,094.00
6 more rows
May 12, 2023

Are California salaries higher than Texas? ›

Think Carefully…

The cost of living in Los Angeles, CA is 34.8% higher than in Dallas, TX. You would have to earn a salary of $80,887 to maintain your current standard of living. Employers in Los Angeles, CA typically pay 13.0% more than employeers in Dallas, TX.

What is the best salary in USA? ›

Here are the highest paying jobs of 2023:

Surgeon: $208,000. Orthodontist: $208,000. Physician: $208,000. Psychiatrist: $208,000.

Who gets world's highest salary? ›

Tesla's CEO Elon Musk is the highest paid CEO in the world. His salary was USD 23.5 billion approximately in the year 2022.

Which job makes the most money? ›

The highest paying jobs in the U.S. are all in medicine, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chief executives and airline pilots are also among the highest paid professions.

What jobs pay a million a year? ›

The jobs of millionaires
  • Investment banker.
  • Certified public accountant.
  • Entrepreneur.
  • Day trader.
  • Real estate agent.
  • Engineer.
  • Lawyer.
  • Actuary.
Apr 14, 2023

Are salaries in America high? ›

United States Salaries vs.

In general, wages in the United States tend to be higher than those in Europe, particularly for skilled and high-paying jobs. Part of the reason for this is that the cost of living in the U.S. is usually higher than in Europe.

What are the top 10 most paying job? ›

The 10 best-paying jobs of 2023, according to new research—many pay over $200,000
  • Obstetrician and gynecologist. ...
  • Surgeon. ...
  • Orthodontist. ...
  • Physician. ...
  • Psychiatrist. ...
  • Nurse anesthetist. Median annual salary: $195,610. ...
  • Pediatrician. Median annual salary: $170,480. ...
  • Pilot. Median annual salary: $134,630.
Feb 1, 2023

What's the minimum wage in New York? ›

Minimum Wage Rate Schedule
LocationMinimum Wage as of 12/31/2021*, ***Minimum Wage as of 12/31/2022*, ***
New York City$15.00$15.00
Long Island & Westchester$15.00$15.00
Remainder of New York State$13.20*$14.20*

How much is $17 an hour annually? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. $17 an hour is how much a year? If you make $17 an hour, your yearly salary would be $35,360.

What is minimum wage in California? ›

The minimum wage in California is currently $15.50/hour for all employers. Some cities and counties have higher minimum wages than the state's rate. There is a list of City and County minimum wages in California maintained by UC Berkeley.

Where is the best place to teach in the US? ›

New York held the No. 1 position partly due to its high rankings in teacher salaries and public-school spending per student — achieving No. 1 in each category. Utah, which carried the second highest ranking in the opportunity category, held the second spot overall behind New York.

Where does Florida rank in teacher pay? ›

It says Florida is 48th in the country for average teacher pay, with teachers making about $51,230. The minimum living wage, it says, is $49,625. Florida ranks better when it comes to average starting salaries for teachers at 15th in the nation at about $45,337.

What is a teachers salary in California? ›

The average salary for a public school teacher in California is $65,500 per year.

What is the average salary in Mexico? ›

As of 2023, the average monthly salary in Mexico in pesos is approximately 25,000 MXN or about 1,400 USD. This figure may be lower than that of other countries, but it's important to take into account that the cost of living in Mexico is generally lower than in many developed countries.

What is a good salary for California? ›

The data used in the study analyzed the cost of living in each city as of 2022. For California cities like Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Diego, a single person must make more than $76,000 to “live comfortably,” the data shows.

What salary is middle class? ›

Pew draws on the same formula used in the SmartAsset report, defining the middle class as those with incomes between two-thirds and twice the national median income. That works out to a national salary range of roughly $52,000 to $156,000 in 2020 dollars for a three-person household.

Why is California so rich? ›

Agriculture is one of the prominent elements of the state's economy: California leads the nation in the production of fruits, vegetables, wines and nuts. The state's most valuable crops are cannabis, nuts, grapes, cotton, flowers, and oranges. California produces the major share of U.S. domestic wine.

What is the best state to be a millionaire? ›

Comparing all US states across a range of factors, we can reveal that the best place to live if you want to become a millionaire is New Hampshire. With an overall index score of 80.733, you're more likely to hit a seven-digit net worth here than in any other US region.

How rich is each state? ›

In summary
RankStateReal per capita personal income
1Connecticut63366
2Massachusetts59919
3New York53700
4Alaska51528
39 more rows

Is $50 an hour too much? ›

Is 50 an Hour Good? Yes, $50 an hour is actually good pay. To put things into perspective, $50 an hour is almost seven times higher than the federal minimum wage. As of 2022, the Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

How much is $20 an hour in California? ›

As of Jun 1, 2023, the average annual pay for the $20 An Hour jobs category in California is $36,961 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $17.77 an hour. This is the equivalent of $710/week or $3,080/month.

Can you live on $15 an hour in Florida? ›

The current minimum wage in Florida is $8.56, slightly higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Economists estimate that Floridians need to earn at least $15.60 per hour to enjoy a living wage and comfortable lifestyle. This is an average salary of $32,448 per year.

What stores pay the most in California? ›

Top companies for Retail Sales Associates in California
  • Journeys. 3.5 $31.72per hour. 5,047 reviews10 salaries reported.
  • S&G Carpet and More. 3.4 $29.33per hour. 23 reviews46 salaries reported.
  • Hibbett Sports. 3.8 $28.00per hour. ...
  • My Wireless. 4.5 $20.78per hour. ...
  • Sunrun. 3.3 $20.11per hour. ...
  • Show more companies.

What is the richest county in California? ›

SmartAsset: 10 Wealthiest Counties in U.S.

Among the top five, third-ranked Santa Clara County has the highest median income ($140,258), according to the study.

What is the most expensive area in California? ›

LOS ANGELES - Beverly Hills was just named the "most expensive" neighborhood in California and among the priciest in the United States. That's according to a recent study by CashNetUSA, which analyzed Zillow data to determine which U.S. neighborhoods carried the highest price tags.

Why do Californians move to Texas? ›

Pro: Taxes Aren't So Taxing in Texas

One of the BIG reasons to move to Texas from California is the taxes. California state income tax is the highest in the country, on all levels. Californians pay as much as 13.3% in state income tax and, depending on local rates, between 7.25% and 10.75% in sales tax.

Are Colorado salaries higher than California? ›

Are Salaries Higher in California or Colorado? Overall, California has higher salaries than Colorado. The average salary in California is $95,000-$150,000 per year, while the average salary in Colorado is $83,000-$92,000 per year.

Is it cheaper to live in Texas or California? ›

Cost of Living in California vs. Texas. In Texas, you can get a lot more bang for your buck. A MyMove study evaluating the cost of living in the United States in 2022 shows that California has a cost index of 151.7, while Texas has a cost index of only 91.5.

What state has the highest livable wage? ›

It is different from the minimum wage, which is the legally mandated lowest hourly rate of pay that employers must pay their employees. The states with the highest livable wage are the District of Columbia, Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts, and California, with hourly rates ranging from $23.13 to $21.82.

Which U.S. state has the highest average income? ›

New York is the richest state in the US, with a GDP per capita at $96,5k. This means that New York is responsible for around 9% of America's entire economic output, the highest percentage amongst the 50 states.

What is the lowest paying state in the US? ›

Federal minimum wage is still $7.25, but more than 20 states will increase minimum wage in 2023. California has the highest minimum wage. Georgia and Wyoming have the lowest minimum wage.

What is a good salary in Texas? ›

What's considered a “good” salary in Texas depends on your household size and lifestyle, but most Texans make between $45K and $100K annually.

What city has the best wages? ›

San Francisco is the highest-paying city in the world according to Deutsche Bank research. With company giants such as Facebook, Google, Apple, Uber, Salesforce all paying healthy six-figure salaries on average, it should come to no surprise that not only is San Francisco the highest-paying city in the world.

Which 5 states have the highest per capita personal income? ›

Here are the 10 states with the highest average income:
  • Massachusetts - $115,964.
  • Connecticut - $115,337.
  • Maryland - $114,236.
  • California - $111,622.
  • Hawaii - $107,348.
  • Virginia - $106,023.
  • New York - $105,304.
  • Washington - $103,669.

What state has most millionaires? ›

by state U.S. 2020. In 2020, California had the highest number of millionaire households in the U.S., with 1.14 million households having one million or more in investible assets.

Why is Maryland the richest state? ›

Maryland is one of the richest states in the USA. The state has a high median household income and a low poverty rate. Maryland is also home to many Fortune 500 companies, and its economy is diversified. The state is known for its seafood, agriculture, and manufacturing industries.

What is a livable wage in Florida? ›

What is a livable salary in Florida? MIT's Living Wage Calculator says a livable salary for a single person in Florida with no children is about $36,000 before taxes.

Where is the highest minimum salary? ›

Top 10 Countries With Highest Paying Jobs
CountryNational Average Salary (Monthly)Hourly Minimum Wage Rate
Switzerland7,351.707.43
Liechtenstein6,070.23No Law
United States5,908.037.25
Denmark5,862.57No Law
6 more rows

What is Texas minimum wage? ›

Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $7.25

The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The Texas State minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums. Instead the State adopts the federal minimum wage rate by reference.

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