While wages in the United States have increased in recent years, many families are still suffering the consequences of high inflation, and wage levels vary considerably, not only by profession, but also by geographical location.
The following chart shows the average salary by state for the entire United States, using the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in March 2025. The figures represent total private hourly earnings, not seasonally adjusted.
At the top of the list is Washington, D.C., where workers earn an average of $52.89 per hour, well ahead of the rest of the states.
This reflects the concentration of well-paid jobs in the region in the public, legal and professional services sectors.
Massachusetts is second with $42.50 per hour, followed by Washington with $41.82 and California with $40.93. In common, these states are home to major technology, biotechnology and financial centers.
At the other end of the scale are Mississippi ($28.25) and Louisiana ($29.17), the only two states with average wages below $30 per hour.
Northeastern states dominate the upper end of the scale, with Connecticut and New York, ing Massachusetts, above $38 an hour.
In contrast, much of the South and Midwest are closer to or below the national median. For example, Iowa ($30.94) and Indiana ($32.07) reflect more modest incomes common in the region.
What is the average salary by state in 2025?
The average salary in the United States is $66.62, according to the latest data from the Social Security istration (SSA).
The salary comparison will depend, as expected, on the sector and skills. What you may not know is that salary is also heavily influenced by where you live, as wages go hand in hand with the cost of living.
Below is a list of average and median salaries across the United States, and how incomes vary from state to state
The following chart shows the average and median income (in single-income households) in each state, according to Forbes and the U.S. Census Bureau:
State Average Salary Median Salary
- Alabama $53,394 $59,605
- Alaska $66,130 $82,512
- Arizona $63,045 $66,340
- Arkansas $51,251 $54,658
- California $76,960 $74,819
- Colorado $71,968 $77,331
- Connecticut $73,736 $81,285
- $65,998
- Florida $60,216 $62,973
- Georgia $61,256 $62,468
- Hawaii $65,042 $78,745
- Idaho $55,640 $68,781
- Illinois $67,122 $66,950
- Indiana $56,410 $60,351
- Iowa $56,410 $61,283
- Kansas $56,264 $64,518
- Kentucky $54,018 $57,509
- Louisiana $53,435 $53,821
- Maine $60,008 $66,369
- Maryland $73,632 $81,293
- Massachusetts $80,330 $81,170
- Michigan $60,590 $64,579
- Minnesota $66,706 $72,319
- Mississippi $47,569 $51,554
- Missouri $57,574 $59,605
- Montana $55,910 $65,242
- Nebraska $58,074 $63,813
- Nevada $58,906 $64,412
- New Hampshire $66,102 $84,017
- New Jersey $73,986 $83,102
- New Mexico $57,512 $56,766
- New York $78,624 $69,135
- North Carolina $59,717 $61,811
- North Dakota $59,051 $66,813
- Ohio $59,883 $61,617
- Oklahoma $53,456 $55,362
- Oregon $66,706 $70,266
- Pennsylvania $61,922 $66,923
- Rhode Island $66,602 $72,515
- South Carolina $54,246 $59,661
- South Dakota $53,227 $63,862
- Tennessee $56,035 $59,052
- Texas $61,235 $61,460
- Utah $61,069 $78,917
- Vermont $62,774 $65,712
- Virginia $70,054 $75,756
- Washington $78,125 $86,558
- West Virginia $52,208 $57,979
- Wisconsin $59,509 $66,106
- Wyoming $57,928 $61,866