Median Household Income in US by State 2014

Updated: 3 February, 2016 seen 2,866

After reviewing minimum and average salaries in member states of European Union, I decided to take a look on US average wages -  and compare all 50 American States + D.C.

It was easier to come up with idea than actually get data, as it turns out in US they prefer more count household income rather per-capita. So the closest data I found worth of comparing - median household income. Which, basically means following - Median income is the amount that divides the income distribution into two equal groups, half having income above that amount, and half having income below that amount. Mean income (average) is the amount obtained by dividing the total aggregate income of a group by the number of units in that group.

According to U.S Census Bureau for 2014 median household income in United States was $53,657

U.S Household Income map by State

Median Household Income in US by State in 2014

Median Household Income in US by State in 2014

Here are TOP 10 earner States in America - Maryland (76,165), New Hampshire (73,397), Hawaii (71,223), Connecticut (70,161), D.C. (68,227), Alaska (67,629), Minnesota (67,224), Virginia (66,155), New Jersey (65,243), Utah (63,383)

And here are the least earning States Mississippi (35,521), West Virginia (39,552), Alabama (42,278), Louisiana (42,406), Kentucky (42,786), Tennessee (43,716), Arkansas (44,992), South Carolina (44,929), Florida (46,140), New Mexico (46,686)

It's interesting to observe that New York State (#27) home to the New York City, Illinois (#26) with Chicago and California (#15) with all those top notch IT companies based here are not in TOP 10. Also seeing State of Florida placed 43rd while being fourth largest economy in the United States, might mean just one - wages in tourism industry are low.

Median Household Income 2014

 

# State Income 2014
1 Maryland 76,165
2 New Hampshire 73,397
3 Hawaii 71,223
4 Connecticut 70,161
5 D.C. 68,277
6 Alaska 67,629
7 Minnesota 67,244
8 Virginia 66,155
9 New Jersey 65,243
10 Utah 63,383
11 Massachusetts 63,151
12 Colorado 60,940
13 North Dakota 60,730
14 Vermont 60,708
15 California 60,487
16 Washington 59,068
17 Oregon 58,875
18 Rhode Island 58,633
19 Wisconsin 58,080
20 Iowa 57,810
21 Delaware 57,522
22 Nebraska 56,870
23 Missouri 56,630
24 Wyoming 55,690
25 Pennsylvania 55,173
26 Illinois 54,916
27 New York 54,310
28 Texas 53,875
29 Kansas 53,444
30 Idaho 53,438
31 South Dakota 53,053
32 Michigan 52,005
33 Maine 51,710
34 Montana 51,102
35 Nevada 49,875
36 Ohio 49,644
37 Georgia 49,555
38 Arizona 49,254
39 Indiana 48,060
40 Oklahoma 47,199
41 North Carolina 46,784
42 New Mexico 46,686
43 Florida 46,140
44 South Carolina 44,929
45 Arkansas 44,922
46 Tennessee 43,716
47 Kentucky 42,786
48 Louisiana 42,406
49 Alabama 42,278
50 West Virginia 39,552
51 Mississippi 35,521
  • The gap between top earning State (Maryland) and least earning State (Mississippi) is huge, making difference in year by $40,664 on average per household. 
  • There were for States in 2014, where median household income was above $70,000, while in 17 States median household income didn't reached $50,000

The Bottom Line

It's not only European Union divided by richer and poorer member states, the same applies for United States. Well, the only difference here - lowest paid State in U.S earns about 7 times more than lowest average salary in European Union (Bulgaria). While top earners from Maryland earns about twice as highest earning member state of European Union (Luxembourg)

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