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

Q: What is the average salary in the US in 2026?

The national average salary is about $63,795 in 2026, and the median is about $56,420, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The average is higher than the median because top earners in tech, finance, and law pull the mean upward — the median (the midpoint where half earn more and half less) better reflects a typical worker.

Q: Which state has the highest average salary?

Massachusetts has the highest average salary among states at about $76,600, followed by Washington ($72,300), New York ($72,000), California ($70,800), and Connecticut ($70,200). Washington, D.C. tops all areas at about $92,600 but is a district, not a state. These leaders are driven by concentrations of technology, finance, biotech, and professional services.

Q: Which state has the lowest average salary?

Mississippi has the lowest average salary at about $51,200, followed by West Virginia ($52,800), Arkansas ($53,600), Alabama ($53,800), and South Carolina ($54,000). However, these states also have among the lowest costs of living, so their salaries stretch further than the raw numbers suggest.

Q: Which state has the best salary after cost of living?

After adjusting for cost of living, Texas ranks first — its roughly $63,200 average salary is worth about $68,000 in national-average purchasing power, thanks to a below-average cost of living and no state income tax. Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, and Iowa also jump far up the list. High-nominal states like Hawaii, California, and New York fall sharply once expensive housing is factored in.

Q: Is a $60,000 salary good in 2026?

A $60,000 salary is close to the national median of about $56,420, so it's a solid, roughly typical income — but its value depends heavily on where you live. In low-cost states like Mississippi, Oklahoma, or Tennessee, $60,000 provides a comfortable lifestyle. In high-cost states like California, New York, or Hawaii, the same $60,000 buys far less, largely because of housing. What matters most is your savings rate, not the headline number.

📅 Updated August 2026 ⏱ 9 min read ✍️ By Mike Van Kempen 📊 Source: BLS OEWS

The average American salary is about $63,795 in 2026 — but that ranges from $51,200 in Mississippi to $76,600 in Massachusetts. The twist most rankings miss: once you adjust for cost of living, the "highest-paying" states aren't where your paycheck goes furthest. Texas, not Massachusetts, tops the real-wage list. Here's every state ranked, plus what each salary is actually worth. More in our Personal Finance Statistics Hub →

$63,795US Average Salary

$56,420US Median Salary

$76,600Highest (Massachusetts)

$51,200Lowest (Mississippi)

Average Salary by State — All 50 States Ranked

States are ranked by average (mean) annual salary. The median column shows the typical worker's pay (half earn more, half less). The cost-of-living-adjusted column shows what that average salary is really worth in national-average purchasing power — where the rankings get interesting.

#	State	Avg. Salary	Median	Adj. for Cost of Living
—	Washington, D.C.	$92,600	$72,100	$58,600
1	Massachusetts	$76,600	$61,200	$52,500
2	Washington	$72,300	$59,800	$61,300
3	New York	$72,000	$58,400	$51,800
4	California	$70,800	$62,000	$51,300
5	Connecticut	$70,200	$57,600	$54,800
6	New Jersey	$68,900	$57,100	$54,700
7	Hawaii	$67,800	$54,100	$35,100
8	Colorado	$66,800	$55,900	$60,200
9	Maryland	$66,500	$55,600	$54,500
10	Virginia	$65,800	$54,900	$60,400
11	Minnesota	$65,200	$54,300	$62,100
12	Alaska	$65,100	$53,800	$50,100
13	Illinois	$64,900	$53,500	$62,400
14	Oregon	$64,600	$53,200	$54,700
15	Texas	$63,200	$52,900	$68,000
16	Pennsylvania	$62,800	$52,400	$64,700
17	Delaware	$62,500	$52,100	$56,800
18	Georgia	$62,100	$51,700	$65,400
19	Michigan	$61,900	$51,500	$63,800
20	Arizona	$61,600	$51,200	$59,800
21	Nevada	$61,200	$51,800	$57,200
22	North Carolina	$61,200	$50,900	$63,100
23	Wisconsin	$60,800	$50,500	$62,000
24	Florida	$60,600	$50,300	$58,800
25	Ohio	$60,400	$50,100	$66,400
26	Utah	$60,200	$49,900	$58,400
27	Kansas	$59,800	$49,500	$65,700
28	Indiana	$59,400	$49,100	$65,300
29	Missouri	$59,100	$48,800	$64,200
30	Nebraska	$59,000	$48,700	$64,100
31	Iowa	$58,800	$48,500	$65,300
32	Wyoming	$58,500	$48,200	$62,200
33	New Hampshire	$58,200	$47,900	$50,200
34	Tennessee	$58,000	$47,700	$64,400
35	Kentucky	$57,800	$47,500	$63,500
36	Idaho	$57,600	$47,300	$58,200
37	Maine	$57,400	$47,100	$49,900
38	Rhode Island	$57,200	$46,900	$48,100
39	Vermont	$57,100	$46,800	$48,400
40	North Dakota	$56,900	$46,600	$57,500
41	South Dakota	$54,800	$45,400	$58,300
42	Montana	$54,600	$45,200	$54,100
43	New Mexico	$54,200	$44,800	$59,600
44	Oklahoma	$54,100	$44,700	$61,500
45	Louisiana	$54,100	$44,700	$60,100
46	South Carolina	$54,000	$44,600	$56,800
47	Alabama	$53,800	$44,400	$60,400
48	Arkansas	$53,600	$44,200	$60,900
49	West Virginia	$52,800	$43,500	$60,700
50	Mississippi	$51,200	$42,100	$58,900

Source: average and median wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2025) via AnnualPayCalculator; cost-of-living adjustment uses BEA Regional Price Parities (100 = national average). D.C. is a district, shown for reference.

📌 Key Insight

The nominal ranking and the real ranking are almost opposites. Massachusetts pays the highest average salary ($76,600) but its high cost of living drops it to roughly $52,500 in real purchasing power — below the national average. Meanwhile Texas, 15th in raw pay, tops the list at about $68,000 adjusted, thanks to a below-average cost of living and no state income tax. The lesson: a bigger salary in an expensive state can leave you poorer than a smaller one somewhere cheaper. What you keep and invest matters more than the headline figure.

Highest and Lowest — Nominal vs. Real

Highest Pay

Massachusetts

$76,600 average — but ~$52,500 after cost of living.

Best Real Wage

Texas

$63,200 average, worth ~$68,000 adjusted. No income tax.

Lowest Pay

Mississippi

$51,200 average — but low costs lift it to ~$58,900 real.

Overrated

Hawaii

$67,800 average collapses to ~$35,100 after its extreme cost of living.

Average vs. Median: Why the Gap Matters

The national average salary ($63,795) is meaningfully higher than the median ($56,420). That gap exists because a relatively small number of very high earners — in tech, finance, medicine, and law — pull the average up. The median is the true midpoint and a better benchmark for "am I typical?" When you compare yourself, use the median. When you read a flashy "average salary" headline, remember it's skewed upward.

What Actually Grows Your Wealth

Your state and salary set the starting line, but they don't determine the finish. Two things matter more over a career:

Your savings rate. Someone earning $55,000 who saves 20% out-builds someone earning $80,000 who saves 5%. Rate beats raw income.
Cost of living. A cheaper state effectively raises your income by lowering what you spend — money that can go straight into investments. For remote workers especially, geography is a wealth lever.

Pair a solid salary with a low-cost location and a high savings rate, and even a "below-average" paycheck compounds into real wealth.

Turn a Bigger Paycheck Into Real Wealth

Whatever your salary, the savings rate is what compounds. A budgeting app makes it automatic — and an investing app puts the difference to work.

Best Budgeting Apps → Best Investing Apps

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary in the US in 2026? ▼

About $63,795 on average, with a median of about $56,420, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The average exceeds the median because top earners pull the mean up; the median better reflects a typical worker.

Which state has the highest average salary? ▼

Massachusetts at about $76,600, followed by Washington ($72,300), New York ($72,000), California ($70,800), and Connecticut ($70,200). Washington, D.C. leads all areas at ~$92,600 but is a district, not a state.

Which state has the lowest average salary? ▼

Mississippi at about $51,200, followed by West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, and South Carolina. These states also have low costs of living, so the paychecks stretch further than the raw figures imply.

Which state has the best salary after cost of living? ▼

Texas — its ~$63,200 average is worth about $68,000 in national-average purchasing power, helped by a low cost of living and no state income tax. Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, and Iowa also rise sharply, while Hawaii, California, and New York fall.

Is a $60,000 salary good in 2026? ▼

It's close to the national median, so it's a solid, roughly typical income — but its value depends on where you live. $60,000 is comfortable in low-cost states and tight in high-cost ones like California or Hawaii. Your savings rate matters more than the headline number.

By Mike Van Kempen · Founder & Editor, TopMoneyApps

Mike founded TopMoneyApps and analyzes public data from the BLS, Census Bureau, Federal Reserve, and others to help readers see where they really stand.

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