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    Top 15 US States With the Highest Income

    Press RoomBy No Comments4 Mins Read

    The median income in the US is about $83,000 — and you could make more or less than that number depending on where you live. But which states are the highest earning overall?

    A new WalletHub study used three income-related measures to rank states: the average annual income of the top 5%, the average annual income of the bottom 20%, and the median annual household income of the state’s entire population.

    The resulting rankings include some surprises. None of the states known for being home to billionaires, like New York, California, and Florida, took the top spot.

    WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said New York’s income disparity is a reason it came up just short of the No. 1 ranking. While the top 5% makes a lot, the state’s middle class isn’t making nearly as much.

    “In terms of just the median annual income, which I think is what most people are interested in as far as that’s a reflection of the middle class, New York is a little above average in terms of its median annual income at $96,000,” Lupo told Business Insider.

    One state that barely cracked the top 15 is California; a state known for movie stars and moguls. Lupo posited that the Golden State’s lower ranking on the list may have been impacted by several top earners leaving.

    “What’s going on in California also is the number of high-wealth individuals that are fleeing the state,” Lupo said. “A lot of wealth is moving out of the state and into more tax-friendly states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. So that’s a huge driver.”

    Read on for the 15 states where people have the highest income, according to WalletHub.

    15. Florida


    The skyline of the Brickell neighborhood in Miami, with illuminated buildings and palm trees under a colorful twilight sky.

    Miami.

    tifonimages/Getty Images

    Total score: 49.89

    Average annual income of top 5%: $507,073

    Median annual income: $75,737

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $16,378

    14. Georgia


    The Atlanta, Georgia skyline in the evening.

    Atlanta.

    Dan Reynolds Photography/Getty Images

    Total score: 52.76

    Average annual income of top 5%: $516,260

    Median annual income: $72,437

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $17,301

    13. California


    Aerial view of downtown San Francisco skyline.

    San Francisco.

    Prasit photo/Getty Images

    Total score: 53.45

    Average annual income of top 5%: $482,584

    Median annual income: $133,974

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $14,662

    12. District of Columbia


    An aerial view of Capitol Hill in Washington, DC at sunset.

    Washington, DC.

    halbergman/Getty Images

    Total score: 54.11

    Average annual income of top 5%: $488,074

    Median annual income: $174,287

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $9,579

    11. Texas


    Regency Tower, Bank of America Building, Dallas Skyline, Dallas America

    Dallas.

    joe daniel price/Getty Images

    Total score: 54.93

    Average annual income of top 5%: $520,378

    Median annual income: $75,905

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $17,651

    10. Massachusetts


    The Boston skyline.

    Boston.

    DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

    Total score: 57.11

    Average annual income of top 5%: $498,062

    Median annual income: $137,563

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $14,440

    9. Illinois


    The Chicago skyline at golden hour.

    Chicago.

    Aerial_Views/Getty Images

    Total score: 57.88

    Average annual income of top 5%: $533,840

    Median annual income: $83,277

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $16,813

    8. Minnesota


    The Minneapolis skyline.

    Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    joe daniel price/Getty Images

    Total score: 58.66

    Average annual income of top 5%: $500,074

    Median annual income: $90,632

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $20,662

    7. Colorado


    Aerial view of Denver, Colorado skyline at sunset.

    Denver, Colorado.

    Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

    Total score: 59.65

    Average annual income of top 5%: $498,587

    Median annual income: $106,187

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $19,588

    6. Utah


    Aerial of downtown of Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images

    Total score: 61.24

    Average annual income of top 5%: $475,515

    Median annual income: $98,858

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $24,307

    5. Connecticut


    Hartford, Connecticut skyline.

    Hartford, Connecticut.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Total score: 64.73

    Average annual income of top 5%: $543,016

    Median annual income: $122,032

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $15,095

    4. Washington


    Seattle downtown skyline and Mount Rainier, Washington.

    Seattle.

    SCStock/Getty Images

    Total score: 65.23

    Average annual income of top 5%: $522,328

    Median annual income: $112,933

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $19,082

    3. New Jersey


    The Jersey City skyline.

    Jersey City, New Jersey.

    OlegAlbinsky/Getty Images

    Total score: 66.08

    Average annual income of top 5%: $527,376

    Median annual income: $125,766

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $17,418

    2. New York


    Aerial view of skyscrapers in Midtown Manhattan.

    New York.

    Art Wager/Getty Images

    Total score: 66.27

    Average annual income of top 5%: $585,523

    Median annual income: $96,746

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $13,633

    1. Virginia


    The Arlington, Virginia, city skyline on the Potomac River.

    Arlington, Virginia.

    SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images

    Total score: 67.57

    Average annual income of top 5%: $545,097

    Median annual income: $95,339

    Average annual income of bottom 20%: $19,671

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