Whether earning income in the top 10% of your state feels like a pipe dream or a plausible reality, one thing is certain: What constitutes a 10% earner varies wildly by state.
Methodology
GOBankingRates collected data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to determine how much Americans need to earn annually to be a top 10% earner in their state. For context, they compared the top 10% of earnings to the median household income. These are their findings for each state.
1: Alabama
The top 10% of earners in Alabama make at least $193,311 per year. In contrast, the median household income is $54,943.
2: Alaska
Alaska’s top 10% make a minimum of $242,097 annually. The Last Frontier’s median income is higher than many states, at $80,287.
3: Arizona
One needs to earn at least $223,521 yearly to be considered a top 10% earner in Arizona. That’s nearly 240% more than the median income of $65,913.
4: Arkansas
Arkansas has a relatively modest $188,510 starting annual income for the top 10%. In contrast, its median income is $52,123.
5: California
It likely comes as little surprise that California has one of the highest top 10% earner incomes in the U.S., at $309,857. The Golden State’s median income is $84,097.
6: Colorado
Colorado’s top 10% earning residents make a minimum of $264,516 per year. Its median household income is $80,184.
7: Connecticut
Connecticut has a massively high $319,533 entry point for people to be considered as having the top 10% of income for their state. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s median income is $83,572.
8: Delaware
$238,612 is what Delaware residents must make to be among the top 10% of income. Meanwhile, the median household income is $72,724.
9: Florida
The top 10% of Floridian earners make $230,107 per year. That’s over 272% more than the Sunshine State’s median income of $61,777.
10: Georgia
Georgia’s top 10% make at least $234,209 annually. That’s a stark difference to the state’s median income of $65,030.
11: Hawaii
Hawaii ranks below California and Alaska for required income to be in the top 10%. That said, $271,560 is nothing to sneeze at, and it’s a long way away from the median household income of $88,005.
12: Idaho
Idaho residents who make at least $203,042 can claim the coveted top 10% earner title. The state’s median income is $63,377.
13: Illinois
$258,373 is the annual minimum earnings to reach the top 10% of the highest earners in Illinois. On the flip side, the state’s median income is $72,563.
14: Indiana
On paper, it doesn’t take as much to be a top 10% earner in Indiana, at $198,848 of annual income. Indiana also has a low $61,944 of median income.
15: Iowa
Iowa’s top 10% earners make at least $203,398 yearly. Meanwhile, more residents fall under the state’s median income of $65,429.
16: Kansas
You need to earn at least $212,122 per year to be in the top 10% of earners in Kansas. That’s over 230% more than its median income of $64,521.
17: Kentucky
Kentucky’s top 10% income bracket sits below the jarring $200,000 mark at $194,168. Meanwhile, the state’s median income is $55,454.
18: Louisiana
It takes $201,514 to be a top 10% income earner in Louisiana. As for its median income? It’s a low $53,571.
19: Maine
Maine’s top 10% income earners make a minimum of $205,365 each year. In contrast, its median income is $63,182.
20: Maryland
Maryland has a jaw-dropping annual income of $293,979 for residents to be considered in the top 10%. The state’s $91,431 median income is also high enough to turn heads.
21: Massachusetts
Thought Maryland had expensive earning standards? Massachusetts residents must make at least $316,447 per year to be in the top 10%. Its median income is $89,026.
22: Michigan
Michigan’s top 10% make $213,981 annually. That’s nearly 240% more than its median income of $63,202.
23: Minnesota
Minnesota residents who make a minimum of $250,361 claim the top 10% earner title. Meanwhile, the state’s median household income is $77,706.
24: Mississippi
Americans only need to make $175,581 to be a top 10% earner in Mississippi. That corresponds with a significantly lower median income of $49,111.
25: Missouri
If you make $207,969 in Missouri, you’re part of the top 10% earner club. Anyone making around $61,043 falls into the median household income category.
26: Montana
$205,462 is the magic number for being in the top 10% of income in Montana. The state’s median income is $60,560.
27: Nebraska
Nebraska residents must earn $213,091 to be in the top 10% of income earners for their state. In contrast, the median income is $66,644.
28: Nevada
A respectable $224,480 will land Nevadans in the top 10% of income earners. That’s significantly higher than the state’s $65,686 median income.
29: New Hampshire
$258,632 is what it takes to become part of the 10% earners club in New Hampshire. The state’s median income is $83,449.
30: New Jersey
A heafty $319,140 annual income is needed to be considered a top 10% earner in New Jersey. The median income is also high, at $89,703.
31: New Mexico
New Mexico has among the lowest top 10% income barriers to entry from a numbers standpoint, at $188,282. Its $54,020 median annual income is also low.
32: New York
It takes at least $302,676 to be considered in the top 10% of income in New York. That’s over 300% higher than the Empire State’s median income of $75,157.
33: North Carolina
North Carolina residents in the top 10% of income make $217,348 per year. In contrast, the state’s median household income is $60,516.
34: North Dakota
You’ll need to make $217,143 yearly to be a top 10% earner in North Dakota. Alternatively, residents’ median income is $68,131.
35: Ohio
$209,247 is the minimum an Ohioan needs to earn to become part of the top 10% income earners. Ohio’s median income is $61,938.
36: Oklahoma
The not-small but not-so-massive amount of $195,269 lands Oklahomans in the top 10% earners category. The median household income in Oklahoma is $56,956.
37: Oregon
Oregon’s top 10% earners make at least $232,703 yearly. The state’s median income of $70,084 sits right around the national average.
38: Pennsylvania
People with the top 10% of income in Pennsylvania make at least $167,231 annually. The median household income is $67,587.
39: Rhode Island
Rhode Island has a relatively smaller discrepancy between its top 10% earners and median income. The top 10% of earners make $242,103 per year, while the median income is $74,489.
40: South Carolina
$207,367 of annual income buys South Carolinians the top 10% earner status. South Carolina’s median income is $58,234.
41: South Dakota
A resident needs to make at least $200,212 in South Dakota to be considered a top 10% income earner. South Dakota’s median income is $63,920.
42: Tennessee
It takes $210,529 to be in the top 10% of income in Tennessee. The state’s median income is $58,516.
43: Texas
Texans making $239,765 or more annually fall into the top 10% income group. Texas has a median income of $67,321.
44: Utah
Utah’s top 10% earners make a minimum of $239,149 per year. Its median income is $79,133.
45: Vermont
$218,086 in yearly income lands Vermont residents in the top 10% earner category. The state’s median income is $67,674.
46: Virginia
Virginia locals who make a massive $280,299 or more per year make up the state’s 10% income earners. Meanwhile, the median income is $80,615.
47: Washington
Anyone making $277,165 or more per year in Washington is in the top 10% for income. The state’s median income is $82,400.
48: West Virginia
West Virginia’s $174,019 annual income to be in the top 10% seems like a walk in the park compared to many of the other numbers on this list. Its median income of $50,884 may also be attractive to people who live in states with a higher cost of living.
49: Wisconsin
It takes $211,049 to be a top 10% earner in Wisconsin. The median household income in Wisconsin is $67,080.
50: Wyoming
An annual salary of $210,249 makes Wyoming residents claim the title of being in the top 10% of earners in their state. In contrast, the median income is $68,002.
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