Average Salary by State 2026
How much does the typical worker earn where you live? We ranked the median annual wage across all 50 states + Washington D.C. using the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The national median is $61,900/yr — half of all workers earn more, half earn less.
Updated June 2026 · Editorial standards
Highest state
$89,200
Washington D.C.
Lowest state
$43,600
Mississippi
National median
$61,900
all occupations
Highest vs lowest gap
$45,600
DC vs MS
State rankings
Top 10 and bottom 5 states by median annual wage.
Top 10 — highest median salary
Bottom 5 — lowest median salary
State heatmap
Each tile shows a state's median salary rank. Green = highest pay, red = lowest. Tap or hover a tile — details appear below the map.
Tap or hover any state tile to see its figures here.
Full state comparison
Click any column header to sort. Click "Calculate" to run a personalised salary breakdown.
| Calculate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | DCWashington D.C. | $89,200 | +$27,300 | Calculate → |
| #2 | MAMassachusetts | $78,600 | +$16,700 | Calculate → |
| #3 | WAWashington | $75,200 | +$13,300 | Calculate → |
| #4 | NJNew Jersey | $73,800 | +$11,900 | Calculate → |
| #5 | NYNew York | $72,900 | +$11,000 | Calculate → |
| #6 | CACalifornia | $72,400 | +$10,500 | Calculate → |
| #7 | MDMaryland | $72,100 | +$10,200 | Calculate → |
| #8 | CTConnecticut | $71,800 | +$9,900 | Calculate → |
| #9 | VAVirginia | $68,900 | +$7,000 | Calculate → |
| #10 | COColorado | $68,500 | +$6,600 | Calculate → |
Methodology
All figures are median annual wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, covering the May 2024 survey — the most recent full release. Median means half of workers earn more and half earn less, making it less distorted by very high earners than the mean.
Coverage: all 50 states + Washington D.C. Each state median blends every occupation — healthcare, tech, construction, retail, hospitality. States with large tech or finance sectors (Massachusetts, Washington, California, New Jersey) rank near the top; states weighted toward agriculture, food service, or tourism (Mississippi, Arkansas, West Virginia) rank near the bottom.
The national median of $61,900/yr is the BLS all-occupations figure. The "vs National" column is each state's median minus the national median.
Nominal salaries do not account for cost of living. A $48,000 salary in a low-cost state can carry more purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro. For after-tax comparisons, see our Take-Home Pay by State study.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in the US in 2026?▾
The national median annual wage is approximately $61,900 based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data. The mean (average) wage is higher — around $69,000 — because high earners pull the mean up. Median is the better benchmark for the "typical" worker.
Which state has the highest average salary?▾
Washington D.C. leads with a median of $89,200, driven by federal government jobs and the tech sector. Among the 50 states, Massachusetts ($78,600) and Washington state ($75,200) rank highest, followed by New Jersey ($73,800) and California ($72,400).
Which state has the lowest average salary?▾
Mississippi has the lowest median wage at $43,600. The next lowest are Arkansas ($45,800), West Virginia ($46,100), and Alabama ($48,200). These states have lower costs of living, but purchasing-power-adjusted wages are still meaningfully below the national median.
Is $60,000 a good salary?▾
At the national level, $60,000 is just below the median of $61,900 — right in the middle. Whether it's "good" depends heavily on your state and city: $60k goes far in Mississippi or Arkansas but is below average in California, Massachusetts, or D.C., where housing alone often exceeds $2,000/month.
How does cost of living affect salary comparisons?▾
Nominal salary comparisons don't tell the whole story. A $55,000 salary in Alabama has roughly the same purchasing power as $80,000 in California after adjusting for housing, groceries, and taxes. Use our Take-Home Pay by State study to see how much you actually keep after taxes in each state.
How does your salary compare?
See your take-home pay, hourly rate, and tax breakdown for any salary and state.
Open the Salary Calculator →Disclaimer: KalkWise data studies are for general informational purposes only. Figures are median annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey and reflect all wage and salary workers; individual pay varies widely by occupation, experience, and employer. This is not financial or career advice.