Median Household Income by State (2025)
Quick Answer
The national median household income is approximately $80,600, but it ranges from about $54,000 in Mississippi to over $106,000 in Maryland. Median income is the best measure of what a "typical" household earns because, unlike the average, it is not skewed by billionaires. Knowing your state's median helps you benchmark your earnings and understand your relative financial standing.
Median Household Income by State (Top and Bottom)
Highest-Income States
| Rank | State | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $106,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $101,000 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $99,000 |
| 4 | Washington | $95,000 |
| 5 | California | $92,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $91,000 |
| 7 | Colorado | $89,000 |
| 8 | Virginia | $88,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $88,000 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $87,000 |
Lowest-Income States
| Rank | State | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Alabama | $59,000 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $58,000 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $61,000 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $58,000 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $57,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $56,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $63,000 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $55,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $54,000 |
Real Example: What Median Income Looks Like
A household earning the national median of $80,600 in Texas (married, filing jointly, standard deduction) has a take-home pay of approximately:
| Tax | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | ~$5,500 |
| Social Security (6.2% each) | ~$5,000 each* |
| Medicare (1.45% each) | ~$1,170 each* |
| State tax | $0 |
| Total household take-home | ~$67,760 |
*Assumes two earners splitting the income approximately
That works out to about $5,647/month in take-home pay. See if that covers the bills with the rent affordability tool.
Why Median Income Varies So Much
The $52,000 gap between Mississippi ($54,000) and Maryland ($106,000) is driven by:
- Industry mix: States with tech, finance, and government jobs (Maryland, Massachusetts) have higher medians
- Cost of living: Higher salaries in expensive states are partly absorbed by housing and tax costs
- Education levels: States with more college graduates tend to have higher median incomes
- Urbanization: Metro areas drive up state medians; rural states trend lower
Median Income vs Take-Home Pay
A higher median does not always mean more money in your pocket:
| State | Median Income | State Tax Rate | Estimated Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $106,000 | Progressive (up to 5.75%) | ~$79,000 |
| Texas | $75,000 | 0% | ~$60,500 |
| California | $92,000 | Progressive (up to 13.3%) | ~$68,000 |
| Florida | $72,000 | 0% | ~$58,500 |
Maryland's household earning $106,000 keeps about $79,000 after taxes. But their housing costs are also much higher. A Texas household earning $75,000 may have comparable discretionary income after lower housing costs are factored in.
How to Use This Data
- Benchmark your salary: Compare your household income to your state's median to see where you stand
- Evaluate job offers: A $70,000 offer in Mississippi puts you well above median; the same offer in Massachusetts is below
- Plan a relocation: Use the relocation tool to compare take-home pay in different states
- Set savings goals: Earning above the median gives you more room for retirement savings, 401(k) contributions, and investments
Check your household take-home pay with the married calculator or see your individual breakdown at the SalaryHog calculator.