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Residents of which state have seen the biggest jump in income?
Key points
- Nine states saw weekly wages rise 9.2% or more, with Wyoming leading with 11.2%
- These nine states are located in the Midwest, South and New England.
- Wages rose the least in California, rising just 1%.
As the cost of living continues to rise, it’s more important than ever that your paycheck can keep up. After all, if you don’t make enough money to meet the cost of living in your state, you might be forced to move elsewhere in search of better opportunities. For the 65 million Americans collecting Social Security, beginning in January 2023, they will receive an 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), one of the highest increases in history recent. But what about the rest of us? Fortunately, there are a few states where wages are growing faster than the rest of the country. Here’s a look at the top nine.
Nine states with the fastest growing wages
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from March 2021 to March 2022, nine states saw wages increase by at least 9.2%.
|
State |
Percent change |
Average weekly wages March 2021 |
Average weekly wages March 2022 |
Net change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wyoming |
11.2% |
$952 |
$1,059 |
$107 |
|
Arkansas |
10.9% |
$956 |
$1,060 |
$104 |
|
Florida |
10.8% |
$1,103 |
$1,222 |
$119 |
|
Maine |
10.3% |
$1,000 |
$1,103 |
$103 |
|
Indiana |
9.8% |
$1,026 |
$1,127 |
$101 |
|
Connecticut |
9.2% |
$1,571 |
$1,716 |
$145 |
|
Nebraska |
9.2% |
$988 |
$1,079 |
$91 |
|
North Carolina |
9.2% |
$1,136 |
$1,241 |
$105 |
|
Caroline from the south |
9.2% |
$955 |
$1,043 |
$88 |
Source: bls.gov
All states are located in the Midwest, South or New England region. Wages rose the most in Wyoming at 11.2%. Connecticut, which saw a 9.2% increase, also had the largest net increase in dollars ($145) in average weekly earnings. Wages in 13 states increased between 8.2% and 9.1%, 10 states between 7.4% and 8.1%, 10 states between 6.1% and 7.3% and 8 states 6.0% or less.
Percentage Change in Average Weekly Wage by State
The state with the smallest wage increase was California, at 1%, which equates to a $17 increase in weekly take-home pay. However, he had the second highest weekly salary of March 2021 at $1,627. California has now moved into third place in March 2022 average weekly earnings, with New York now at $1,972 and Connecticut at $1,716. The states with the lowest weekly wages are Mississippi at $879 and West Virginia at $968.
|
State |
Percent change |
Average weekly wages March 2021 |
Average weekly wages March 2022 |
Net change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alabama |
8.2% |
$991 |
$1,072 |
$81 |
|
Alaska |
4.9% |
$1,123 |
$1,178 |
$55 |
|
Arizona |
7.5% |
$1,148 |
$1,234 |
$86 |
|
Arkansas |
10.9% |
$956 |
$1,060 |
$104 |
|
California |
1.0% |
$1,627 |
$1,644 |
$17 |
|
Colorado |
8.8% |
$1,337 |
$1,455 |
$118 |
|
Connecticut |
9.2% |
$1,571 |
$1,716 |
$145 |
|
Delaware |
7.5% |
$1,267 |
$1,362 |
$95 |
|
Florida |
10.8% |
$1,103 |
$1,222 |
$119 |
|
Georgia |
8.8% |
$1,196 |
$1,301 |
$105 |
|
Hawaii |
4.2% |
$1,089 |
$1,135 |
$46 |
|
Idaho |
8.5% |
$905 |
$982 |
$77 |
|
Illinois |
7.3% |
$1,386 |
$1,487 |
$101 |
|
Indiana |
9.8% |
$1,026 |
$1,127 |
$101 |
|
Iowa |
7.6% |
$1,004 |
$1,080 |
$76 |
|
Kansas |
9.0% |
$984 |
$1,073 |
$89 |
|
Kentucky |
7.6% |
$965 |
$1,038 |
$73 |
|
Louisiana |
8.6% |
$974 |
$1,058 |
$84 |
|
Maine |
10.3% |
$1,000 |
$1,103 |
$103 |
|
Maryland |
2.0% |
$1,382 |
$1,410 |
$28 |
|
Massachusetts |
5.9% |
$1,726 |
$1,827 |
$101 |
|
Michigan |
6.2% |
$1,154 |
$1,225 |
$71 |
|
Minnesota |
6.8% |
$1,287 |
$1,374 |
$87 |
|
Mississippi |
8.5% |
$810 |
$879 |
$69 |
|
Missouri |
7.0% |
$1,054 |
$1,128 |
$74 |
|
Montana |
8.3% |
$915 |
$991 |
$76 |
|
Nebraska |
9.2% |
$988 |
$1,079 |
$91 |
|
Nevada |
8.0% |
$1,078 |
$1,164 |
$86 |
|
New Hampshire |
7.8% |
$1,262 |
$1,361 |
$99 |
|
New Jersey |
4.6% |
$1,535 |
$1,606 |
$71 |
|
New Mexico |
6.5% |
$956 |
$1,018 |
$62 |
|
New York |
5.6% |
$1,868 |
$1,972 |
$104 |
|
North Carolina |
9.2% |
$1,136 |
$1,241 |
$105 |
|
North Dakota |
6.9% |
$1,035 |
$1,106 |
$71 |
|
Ohio |
7.5% |
$1,097 |
$1,179 |
$82 |
|
Oklahoma |
8.0% |
$937 |
$1,012 |
$75 |
|
Oregon |
7.4% |
$1,172 |
$1,259 |
$87 |
|
Pennsylvania |
6.9% |
$1,225 |
$1,309 |
$84 |
|
Porto Rico |
2.8% |
$563 |
$579 |
$16 |
|
Rhode Island |
6.8% |
$1,170 |
$1,249 |
$79 |
|
Caroline from the south |
9.2% |
$955 |
$1,043 |
$88 |
|
South Dakota |
8.6% |
$932 |
$1,012 |
$80 |
|
Tennessee |
8.8% |
$1,077 |
$1,172 |
$95 |
|
Texas |
8.7% |
$1,259 |
$1,369 |
$110 |
|
Utah |
8.2% |
$1,065 |
$1,152 |
$87 |
|
Vermont |
7.7% |
$1,028 |
$1,107 |
$79 |
|
The Virgin Islands |
-3.7% |
$983 |
$947 |
-$36 |
|
Virginia |
6.6% |
$1,282 |
$1,366 |
$84 |
|
Washington |
3.8% |
$1,538 |
$1,596 |
$58 |
|
West Virginia |
6.1% |
$912 |
$968 |
$56 |
|
Wisconsin |
8.7% |
$1,046 |
$1,137 |
$91 |
|
Wyoming |
11.2% |
$952 |
$1,059 |
$107 |
Source: bls.gov
The wages workers receive directly affect many aspects of their lives, such as their ability to afford basic necessities. Wages also impact Americans’ ability to save money and invest for the future. Some states have seen their hourly wages increase at a much faster rate than others, and factors such as regional trends in industry and working conditions are likely contributing factors to these differences. State policy makers can also play an important role in raising wages in their state.
If you’re looking for a state with strong wage growth, these nine states are all great options to consider, depending on where you want to live and work. Faced with high inflation, rising costs and a slowing economy, many states are looking to find ways to ensure fair wage growth. This will be key to promoting healthy economic conditions and improving living standards.
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