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    Highest-Paying US States for Adults Without Bachelor’s Degrees

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    The cost of attending college across the US continues to drastically rise. For many Americans, the decision to pursue a four-year degree is as much a financial calculation as an academic one.

    A recent study about the earnings outcomes of different fields reignited an ongoing conversation about the value of a college education in a landscape that increasingly asks students to invest mini-fortunes in their education — or go into student loan debt.

    A college degree can lead to an earnings premium in most career paths. Across the US, bachelor’s degree-holding adults earn an average of 38.6% more than adults with an associate degree or those who attended some college but did not complete a four-year degree.

    That translates to an average earnings gap of about $18,539 a year across states.

    Business Insider analyzed the latest available earnings data from the US Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey and ranked states by the median earnings for adults 25 and older with some college or an associate degree, to account for people who may have pursued careers in more technical trades after graduating from high school. We also identified the median earnings for high school graduates in each state.

    Across all states, higher levels of education were largely associated with higher median earnings.

    The ranking does not adjust for differences in cost of living across states, which often overlap with educational attainment levels and can affect how far those earnings go. States with large professional labor markets are often ranked among the highest-cost-of-living states.

    Still, for people who decide to forgo a four-year education, these are the states ranked by median earnings, from lowest to highest.

    50. Arkansas


    Aerial shot of downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Arkansas is the lowest-earning state for adults with an associate degree or some college.

    Rdlamkin/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $41,732

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,020

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $57,152

    49. Mississippi


    Canton, MS - June 22, 2023: Aerial view of the Courthouse Square in Canton, MS

    Mississippi adults with a high school diploma have a median income of $35,287.

    CRobertson/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $41,781

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $35,287

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $55,481

    48. New Mexico


    City view of historic Santa Fe, New Mexico in fall

    New Mexico is the third-lowest earning state for adults with an associate degree or some college.

    MonaMakela/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $42,468

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,038

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $56,159

    47. Louisiana


    Baton Rouge, LA - December 1, 2023: The Louisiana State Capitol Building in Downtown Baton Rouge

    Louisiana adults with some college or an associate degree have a median income of $43,459.

    CRobertson/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,459

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $35,973

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $59,917

    46. West Virginia


    Downtown skyline of Charleston, West Virginia, United States, viewed from across the Kanawha River on a clear, sunny day. The cityscape features historic and modern architecture along the riverfront

    West Virginia adults with an associate degree or some college have a median income of $43,674.

    Leonid Andronov/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,674

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,207

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $56,967

    45. Oklahoma


    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA downtown skyline at twilight.

    Oklahoma adults with a high school diploma in Oklahoma earn a median income of $37,015.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,787

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,015

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $60,006

    44. Montana


    Aerial panorama of Missoula, Montana, above Beartracks Bridge. Missoula is a city in and the county seat of Missoula County, Montana. It is located along the Clark Fork River.

    Montana adults with an associate degree or some college have a median income of $43,921.

    Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,921

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,322

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $56,457

    43. Wyoming


    Casper, WY, USA - June 05, 2026: Scenic aerial view of city buildings and urban development in Casper Wyoming

    Wyoming adults with a high school diploma make a median income of $46,543.

    GummyBone/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $44,339

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,543

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $54,213

    42. North Carolina


    Charlotte North Carolina Downtown Drone Skyline Aerial

    Adults in North Carolina with an associate degree or some college make a median income of $44,474.

    Kruck20/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $44,474

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,689

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $65,170

    41. Florida


    Orlando, Florida

    Florida adults with a high school education make a median income of $37,044.

    Kruck20/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,172

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,044

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $60,618

    40. Alabama


    Downtown Mobile, Alabama waterfront skyline

    Alabama adults with a high school diploma have a median income of $39,147.

    Cavan-Images/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,321

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,147

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $61,183

    39. Kentucky


    Buildings in Louisville, Kentucky.

    Kentucky adults with an associate degree or some college have a median income of $45,352.

    Alexey Stiop/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,352

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,137

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $60,854

    38. Missouri


    Aerial view of Jefferson City, Missouri. Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri

    Missouri adults with a high school diploma make a median income of $39,568.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,360

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,568

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $62,091

    37. Tennessee


    Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA downtown city skyline at dusk.

    Tennessee adults with an associate degree or some college have a median income of $45,492.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,492

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,835

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $62,654

    36. Michigan


    Detroit, Michigan, USA downtown skyline from above at dusk.

    Michigan adults with an associate degree or some college make a median income of $45,580.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,580

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,399

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $66,497

    35. Idaho


    Downtown Boise in the winter of 2020

    Idaho high school graduates make a median income of $41,114.

    CSNafzger/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,707

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,114

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $60,198

    34. Kansas


    Aerial view of Kansas City skyline at dusk, viewed from Penn Valley Park. Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri.

    In Kansas, adults with some college or an associate degree earn a median income of $45,825.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,825

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,694

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $65,534

    33. South Carolina


    Buildings in Columbia, South Carolina.

    South Carolina adults with a high school diploma make a median income of $38,043.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,860

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,043

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $63,731

    32. Georgia


    Skyline of Atlanta, Georgia.

    Adults with some college or an associate degree in Georgia make a median income of $45,919.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,919

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,311

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $70,582

    31. Nevada


    Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. April 4th, 2026. Las Vegas Strip skyline during the day. View of Paris, Aria, and Cosmopolitan Hotels on Las Vegas Strip.

    Nevada adults with a high school diploma make a median income of $40,969.

    Mossaab Shuraih/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,278

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,969

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $62,782

    30. Ohio


    Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Aerial cityscape image of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA downtown skyline with bridges and Ohio River at spring sunset.

    Ohio adults with some college or an associate degree make a median income of $46,601.

    Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,601

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,810

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $67,591

    29. Vermont


    Aerial view of Montpelier, VT cityscape along Main Street on a sunny day with fall foliage colors. Montpelier is the capital of the U.S. state of Vermont and the county seat of Washington County.

    Adults with some college or an associate degree in Vermont earn a median income of $46,998.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,998

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,859

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $61,949

    28. Nebraska


    Aerial View of the Omaha, Nebraska Skyline at Dusk

    Nebraska high school graduates make a median income of $41,356.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,163

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,356

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $62,021

    26. (tie) Texas


    Dallas Texas downtown urban skyline and freeway

    Texas adults with an associate degree or some college make a median income of $47,269.

    Cavan-Images/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,269

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,098

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $69,494

    26. (tie) Maine


    Portland, Maine, USA coastal townscape.

    Maine high school graduates make a median income of $41,689.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,269

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,689

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $62,442

    25. Oregon


    Aerial View of Downtown Eugene, Oregon on a Cloudy Morning

    Oregon high school graduates make a median income of $42,165.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,544

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,165

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $69,562

    24. Illinois


    Chicago skyline aerial drone view from above, lake Michigan and city of Chicago downtown skyscrapers cityscape bird's view from park, Illinois, USA

    Illinois adults with some college or an associate degree make a median of $47,598.

    JaySi/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,598

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,132

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $72,625

    23. Arizona


    Sedona Arizona Area Landscape on a Partly Cloudy day with parts of the Red Rock Park and a Blue Sky

    Arizona adults with some college or an associate degree make a median income of $47,923.

    Gerald Peplow/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,923

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,518

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $67,466

    22. Indiana


    Evansville, Indiana, USA downtown city skyline on the Ohio River at dusk.

    Indiana high school graduates make a median income of $40,985.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,929

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,985

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $63,367

    21. Iowa


    Aerial View of the Des Moine, Iowa Skyline facing West

    Iowa adults with some college or an associate degree make a median income of $48,062.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $48,062

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,765

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $62,244

    20. Pennsylvania


    Top View of Downtown Skyline Philadelphia USA. Beautiful Sunset Skyline of Philadelphia City Center, Pennsylvania. Business Financial District and Skyscrapers in Background.

    In Pennsylvania, adults with some college or an associate degree earn a median income of $48,250.

    photosounds/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $48,250

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,765

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $70,261

    19. Delaware


    DWilmington Delaware

    Delaware high school graduates have median earnings of $39,495.

    Real Window Creative/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,094

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,495

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $65,673

    18. New York


    New York City skyline. Manhattan Skyscrapers panorama

    New York adults with some college or an associate degree earn a median income of $49,538.

    Evgeny Karandaev/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,538

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,608

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $76,760

    17. Utah


    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA downtown city skyline at dusk.

    Adults in Utah with some college or an associate degree make a median income of $49,669.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,669

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,405

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $65,299

    16. South Dakota


    Aerial View of Sioux Falls, South Dakota at Sunset

    South Dakota high school graduates make a median income of $40,822.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,698

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,822

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $58,207

    15. Rhode Island


    Buildings illuminated at dusk in Providence, Rhode Island.

    Rhode Island adults with some college or an associate degree have a median income of $50,264.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,264

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,251

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $69,496

    14. Wisconsin


    Madison skyline and Wisconsin State Capitol. The Wisconsin State Capitol, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature, Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor.

    Wisconsin adults with some college or an associate degree earn a median income of $50,315.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,315

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,333

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $65,697

    13. Virginia


    Richmond, Virgina, USA downtown skyline.

    Virginia high school graduates have median earnings of $41,012.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,450

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,012

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $75,575

    12. Hawaii


    aerial shot of the Ala Wai Canal with skyscrapers, hotels and condos, lush green trees and cars driving on the street, boats and yachts in the harbor in Honolulu Hawaii USA

    Hawaii has a median income for adults with some college or an associate degree of $50,549.

    Marcus E Jones/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,549

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,373

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $62,969

    11. California


    Downtown San Francisco with the Transamerica Pyramid from Lombard Street, San Francisco, California, United States of America, North America

    California high school graduates earn a median income of $41,535.

    Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,031

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,535

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $80,874

    10. Colorado


    Aerial view of Colorado Capitol and Denver, Colorado skyline at sunset. Denver is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado

    Colorado has the 10th-highest median earnings for adults with some college or an associate degree.

    Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,247

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,010

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $75,637

    8. (tie) North Dakota


    Aerial View of Bismark, North Dakota during Summer

    Adults with some college or an associate degree have a median income of $51,644.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,644

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,787

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $60,560

    8. (tie) New Jersey


    The Jersey City skyline.

    New Jersey high school graduates make a median income of $44,573.

    OlegAlbinsky/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,644

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,624

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $81,107

    7. Connecticut


    City skyline of New Haven, Connecticut

    Connecticut has the seventh-highest median earnings for adults with some college or an associate degree.

    Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,686

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,573

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $77,879

    6. Minnesota


    The Minneapolis skyline.

    Minnesota adults with some college earn a median income of $52,185.

    joe daniel price/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,185

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,121

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $72,538

    5. Massachusetts


    Buildings in Boston, Massachusetts.

    Massachusetts has the fifth-highest earnings for adults with some college or an associate degree.

    Terelyuk/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,218

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,742

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $81,784

    4. New Hampshire


    Manchester, New Hampshire, USA skyline.

    New Hampshire high school graduates have median earnings of $47,609.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,513

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,609

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $71,669

    3. Washington


    Buildings in Seattle, Washington.

    Adults with some college or an associate degree make a median income of $53,857 in Washington.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $53,857

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,996

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $81,640

    2. Alaska


    Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska, at sunset.

    Adults with some college in Alaska earn a median income of $54,950.

    Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $54,950

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $45,904

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $69,031

    1. Maryland


    Baltimore downtown skyline aerial.

    Maryland has the highest median income for adults with some college or an associate’s degree.

    Kruck20/Getty Images

    Median earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $55,301

    Median earnings for high school graduates: $45,273

    Median earnings for adults with a bachelor’s degree: $79,242

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