How Much You Need to Earn to Join the Top 10% in Your State

Do you know what it takes to be a top 10% earner where you live? The income required to be in the top 10% varies greatly across states, so your guess might be more or less accurate depending on where you live.

Find out what it takes to be in the top 10% in your 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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