Median Earnings for Women in Every State
How does your salary measure up to the typical worker in the U.S.? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median wage for U.S. employees, based on figures from the first quarter of 2019, is $47,060 per year — a 2.7 percent increase from the same period in 2018.
Lots of factors affect salary levels, including the type of job, the location, the employee’s education and experience, and the employee’s ethnicity. The gender pay gap (the ratio of female-to-male average or median earnings, typically in the range of 78 percent to 85 percent) also remains an issue. According to Pew Research Center, women earned 85 percent of what men earned in 2018. In other words, women would need to work an additional 39 days to earn the same as men in 2018.
The latest official figures from the U.S. Census Bureau reveal that in 2017, the median earnings for female full-time, year-round workers in the U.S. were $41,453 per year. Of course, that’s a median figure for the entire country. When you break it down by state, according to figures in the 2017 American Community Survey, the median earnings vary widely.
Here are the median earnings for women by state (including Washington, D.C.) from lowest to highest, and how those figures compare to men’s earnings in each state.
51. Mississippi
Percent of men's median earnings: 77 percent
Median earnings for men: $42,287
Mississippi’s top industries are agriculture and forestry. The state produces more than half of the country’s farm-raised catfish, as well as large amounts of cotton, pulpwood and sweet potatoes.
50. Arkansas
Percent of men's median earnings: 79 percent
Median earnings for men: $43,266
Six Fortune 500 companies are based in Arkansas, including the world's No. 1 corporation, Walmart, whose headquarters are in Bentonville. The most populous cities are the capital of Little Rock, followed by Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale and Jonesboro.
49. Idaho
Percent of men's median earnings: 75 percent
Median earnings for men: $46,241
Tourism is key for Idaho’s economy, generating $3 billion per year. Other big industries include aerospace, computer technology and innovation, and food production.
48. Louisiana
Percent of men's median earnings: 69 percent
Median earnings for men: $50,445
The U.S. News & World Report ranks the Pelican State as the worst state, though New Orleans leads the way in culture and is a strong tourism draw. Energy is among the state’s leading industries.
47. West Virginia
Percent of men's median earnings: 74 percent
Median earnings for men: $47,425
West Virginia’s population growth is the worst in the country and only 20 percent of its over-25 population has a post-secondary degree. It still produces most of the coal used in other states, but its economy has been hit by declining coal production and low energy prices.
46. South Carolina
Percent of men's median earnings: 77 percent
Median earnings for men: $45,477
The vacation towns of Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head have given South Carolina's tourism industry a boost in recent years. Other dominant industries include government, professional and business services.
45. Alabama
Percent of men's median earnings: 73 percent
Median earnings for men: $48,199
Ambulatory health care services is the largest industry in Alabama, generating $8.3 billion in 2016. Its most populous cities are Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama.
44. South Dakota
Percent of men's median earnings: 77 percent
Median earnings for men: $46,170
South Dakota benefits from an expanding tourism industry, with Mount Rushmore and the Badlands National Park attracting visitors. Agriculture, bioscience, and oil and gas production are other major industries.
43. Oklahoma
Percent of men's median earnings: 77 percent
Median earnings for men: $46,114
The oil and natural gas industry remains the biggest driver behind Oklahoma’s economy. American Fidelity Assurance Company, headquartered in Oklahoma City, ranked No. 55 in Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2019.
42. New Mexico
Percent of men's median earnings: 83 percent
Median earnings for men: $42,690
The biggest employer in New Mexico is the federal government. Three Air Force bases, White Sands Missile Range, and the federal research facilities at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories are all located in the state.
41. Montana
Percent of men's median earnings: 79 percent
Median earnings for men: $45,616
Most of Montana’s population is employed in government, trade, transportation and utilities, and education and health services. The typical resident is 40 years old, compared to the nationwide median of 38 years old.
40. Kentucky
Percent of men's median earnings: 79 percent
Median earnings for men: $46,289
Only 5.1 percent of Kentucky residents don’t have health insurance coverage, a smaller percentage than in all but seven states. U.S. News & World Report ranks the state No. 13 for affordability.
39. Florida
Percent of men's median earnings: 87 percent
Median earnings for men: $42,261
Florida’s tourist industry took a hit from Hurricane Irma in 2017, but the Sunshine State is bouncing back. According to WalletHub, Sarasota, Orlando and Land O’ Lakes are the best cities for jobs in Florida.
38. Tennessee
Percent of men's median earnings: 82 percent
Median earnings for men: $45,032
Manufacturing, construction and real estate are industries experiencing strong growth in Tennessee. Fortune 500 companies FedEx and HCA Holdings are headquartered in the state.
37. Indiana
Percent of men's median earnings: 73 percent
Median earnings for men: $50,782
Chemical manufacturing is big in Indiana, although it has been on the decline for several years. Some big companies with headquarters in the state include drug maker Eli Lilly and plastics developer Berry Global.
36. Utah
Percent of men's median earnings: 71 percent
Median earnings for men: $52,249
Ranked the fourth best state in 2018 by U.S. News & World Report, Utah is a thriving industrial banking center. It’s one of only a few states where companies are legally allowed to form industrial banks.
35. Missouri
Percent of men's median earnings: 79 percent
Median earnings for men: $47,436
Some of the largest U.S. hospitals are in Missouri, including Barnes Jewish Hospital and Saint John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, and Saint John's Hospital in Springfield. Hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities combined produced $10.7 billion for the state in 2016.
34. Nevada
Percent of men's median earnings: 83 percent
Median earnings for men: $45,439
In terms of percentage population growth from 2017 to 2018, Nevada was joint first with Idaho, with a growth of 2.1 percent. Unsurprisingly, tourism is a major boom for the state, largely thanks to Las Vegas.
33. Kansas
Percent of men's median earnings: 77 percent
Median earnings for men: $49,267
Kansas’s main industries are bioscience, manufacturing, wind energy, renewable fuels and professional services. Most the the state’s $20 billion industry comes from family-owned farms and ranches.
32. Nebraska
Percent of men's median earnings: 77 percent
Median earnings for men: $50,293
Nebraska has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the county (2.9 percent in April 2019) and has healthy agriculture, healthcare and leisure and hospitality industries. Its minimum wage of $9 per hour isn’t the highest, but it’s significantly better than the federal minimum of $7.25.
31. North Carolina
Percent of men's median earnings: 84 percent
Median earnings for men: $46,289
Companies that attract job hunters to North Carolina include IBM, Smithfield Foods, GlaxoSmithKline, Lowe’s Companies and SAS Institute. Research Triangle Park (Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh) is a hub for tech companies.
30. Georgia
Percent of men's median earnings: 83 percent
Median earnings for men: $47,114
The broadcasting and telecom industry is booming in Georgia, generating $30.5 billion in 2016. After California and New York, Georgia is the third largest television and film production shooting location.
29. Iowa
Percent of men's median earnings: 79 percent
Median earnings for men: $50,295
One of Iowa’s most thriving business centers is the city of Des Moines. It’s also home to Drake University and Grand View University, and satellite facilities for Simpson College, Upper Iowa University and William Penn University.
28. Arizona
Percent of men's median earnings: 85 percent
Median earnings for men: $46,681
Arizona has the only state capital with more than 1 million people. Phoenix is home to American Express and Clearlink, and because of its tech industry it’s sometimes called the “Silicon Desert.”
27. Ohio
Percent of median earnings for men: 78 percent
Median earnings for men: $51,000
Ohio has several companies on the Fortune 500 list, including Nationwide, Kroger, Marathon Petroleum, Macy’s and Procter & Gamble. Its highest entry on the list, at No. 16, is Dublin-based healthcare services company Cardinal Health.
26. Wyoming
Percent of median earnings for men: 77 percent
Median earnings for men: $51,948
The least populous state in the U.S., Wyoming is home to over one-third of recoverable U.S. coal reserves. This made it the top coal producing state for over 30 years.
25. Texas
Percent of median earnings for men: 81 percent
Median earnings for men: $49,414
Between 2017 and 2018, Texas experienced the most numeric growth of all states, with a rise in population of 379,128. Oil and gas extraction is the largest industry in the state, which is home to over a third of all proved oil reserves in the nation.
23. Maine
Percent of median earnings for men: 82 percent
Median earnings for men: $49,476
Given that about 90 percent of Maine is forested, one of its leading industries is pulp-paper production. Tourism is also a big economic driver, with Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park attracting visitors.
22. Wisconsin
Percent of median earnings for men: 80 percent
Median earnings for men: $51,346
Many of Wisconsin’s largest enterprises are in manufacturing, including Rockwell Automation Inc., Harley-Davidson Inc. and Bemis Company Inc. The state also has a rich political history; the Republican Party was established there in 1854.
21. North Dakota
Percent of median earnings for men: 79 percent
Median earnings for men: $51,563
Nearly 90 percent of North Dakota’s land is used for farming, and one-fifth of the state's population is employed in agriculture. North Dakota is the nation’s top producer of honey and pinto beans.
20. Oregon
Percent of median earnings for men: 82 percent
Median earnings for men: $50,965
The ninth largest state by area, Oregon is home to Nike, the biggest sportswear (and fashion) brand in the world, worth $28 billion. Other big companies based in Oregon are Precision Castparts and Daimler Trucks North America.
19. Hawaii
Percent of median earnings for men: 81 percent
Median earnings for men: $51,594
The most recent addition to the United States, Hawaii’s annual job growth is equal to the national average (1.2 percent) and it outperforms the U.S. as a whole on many healthcare markers, including preventable hospital admissions and obesity rate.
18. Pennsylvania
Percent of median earnings for men: 80 percent
Median earnings for men: $52,111
Some of the biggest industries in Pennsylvania are agriculture, coal, steel, railroads and food processing. It’s also a leader in mushroom production, with an annual value of more than $330 million.
17. Vermont
Percent of median earnings for men: 86 percent
Median earnings for men: $48,924
One of Vermont’s most lucrative commodities is maple syrup; it produces nearly two million gallons of the stuff every year, which makes up almost half of the nation’s total syrup crop.
16. Illinois
Percent of median earnings for men: 78 percent
Median earnings for men: $55,585
Education, agriculture and clean energy technology are leading industries in Illinois. Its largest city, Chicago, is home to companies like Boeing, Kraft Heinz and Walgreens.
15. Colorado
Percent of median earnings for men: 82 percent
Median earnings for men: $54,869
Tourism is a huge boost to the economy in Colorado, with millions visiting every year for skiing, mountain climbing and many other adventurous pursuits. In 2017, tourists spent $20.9 billion in Colorado, generating $1.28 billion in state and local tax revenue.
14. Virginia
Percent of median earnings for men: 79 percent
Median earnings for men: $57,690
Virginia has a diverse economy, with shipbuilding, seafood harvesting, wine production and technology boosting the state’s purse. Forbes ranks it as the top state for quality of life.
13. Minnesota
Percent of median earnings for men: 82 percent
Median earnings for men: $55,812
Minnesota ranks third in Fortune 500 companies per capita, with UnitedHealth Group, Target and Best Buy some of the big names in the state. It also has the highest percentage of adults with a high school degree (93 percent).
12. New Hampshire
Percent of median earnings for men: 79 percent
Median earnings for men: $57,966
New Hampshire boasts a low unemployment rate (joint third lowest in April 2019) and ranks highly in several areas. The U.S. World & News Report put it in first place for opportunity and crime and corrections, and fifth place for education.
11. Rhode Island
Percent of median earnings for men: 84 percent
Median earnings for men: $55,183
With an area of 1,214 square miles, Rhode Island is the smallest state. Providence, its capital and largest city by population, is home to Brown University, a leading research institution and one of the eight Ivy League schools.
10. California
Percent of median earnings for men: 89 percent
Median earnings for men: $52,487
With an estimated almost 40 million inhabitants as of July 2018, California remains the most populous state. It also has the largest economy of any state — with a GDP of $2.6 trillion, it alone would be the 6th largest economy in the world if ranked alongside other countries.
9. Delaware
Percent of median earnings for men: 86 percent
Median earnings for men: $54,657
The second smallest state by area (1,948.54 square miles), Delaware is often referred to as the chemical capital of the world because its economy relies heavily on chemical manufacturing. Delaware is home to DuPont, one of the world’s foremost chemical manufacturers.
8. Alaska
Percent of median earnings for men: 82 percent
Median earnings for men: $57,943
Oil, fishing and tourism drive Alaska’s economy. The U.S. News & World Report ranks Alaska No. 18 for opportunity and No. 25 for healthcare. It may be the largest state by area, but it’s among the smallest in terms of population, with only around 740,000 residents.
7. Washington
Percent of median earnings for men: 78 percent
Median earnings for men: $60,893
In 2016, Washington’s economy grew 3.7 percent, nearly two and a half times the national rate. The following year, it ranked the top state for business, before slipping to 2nd place in 2018, with Texas grabbing the top spot.
6. New York
Percent of median earnings for men: 88 percent
Median earnings for men: $55,636
New York is a state of two halves: New York City is one of the richest cities in the world (and the city and its five boroughs house around half of the state’s population), while upstate New York is largely rural, less densely populated and has a slow economy.
5. New Jersey
Percent of median earnings for men: 80 percent
Median earnings for men: $64,497
Leading industries in New Jersey include information and technology, pharmaceutical and biotechnical.
4. Connecticut
Percent of median earnings for men: 83 percent
Median earnings for men: $62,976
Digital media has given Connecticut’s economy a major boost. More than 1,200 digital media-related businesses have headquarters in the state, including ESPN.
3. Maryland
Percent of median earnings for men: 86 percent
Median earnings for men: $61,263
Maryland is an attractive location for many businesses, ranking highly in terms of innovation, opportunity and education. In the financial year 2017-2018, venture capital investment in the state rose 217.7 percent from the previous year.
2. Massachusetts
Percent of median earnings for men: 83 percent
Median earnings for men: $65,939
Large companies with headquarters in Massachusetts include General Electric, which employs 295,000 workers in Boston, and Showcase Cinemas in Norwood, which employs 133,269 people worldwide.
1. District of Columbia
Percent of median earnings for men: 89 percent
Median earnings for men: $74,877
Women in District of Columbia have a higher median salary than women in every state — by far. This may be linked to the fact that 56.6 percent of residents are educated to bachelor’s degree level or higher.
