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Mapped: Where Incomes Are Rising Fastest by State

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Mapped: Where Incomes Are Rising Fastest, by State

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Key Takeaways

  • Colorado led the nation, with median household income up 46.9% from 2019 to 2024
  • Household incomes rose 21.9% nationally over the same period (not adjusted for inflation)

Since 2019, U.S. household incomes have surged—rising from $68,700 to $83,730 nationally, a 21.9% increase in just five years.

But where you live matters a lot. While some states tracked close to the national average, others saw incomes climb at nearly double the pace, driven by booming local industries and major investment.

States like Colorado posted outsized gains, while Georgia’s expanding EV industry brought billions in investment and rising paychecks.

The map shows which states saw the fastest growth in median household income from 2019 to 2024, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Trends in Median Income by State

Below, we show the change in median household income for all 50 U.S. states and D.C. between 2019 and 2024 using nominal figures (not adjusted for inflation):

Rank State Change in Median Household Income2019-2024 Median Household Income 2019 Median Household Income 2024
1 Colorado 46.9% $72,500 $106,500
2 Georgia 43.4% $56,630 $81,210
3 Maine 36.3% $66,550 $90,730
4 Montana 36.1% $60,190 $81,920
5 Tennessee 34.0% $56,630 $75,860
6 Rhode Island 31.6% $70,150 $92,290
7 Massachusetts 29.9% $87,710 $113,900
8 Florida 29.6% $58,370 $75,630
9 Iowa 29.4% $66,050 $85,480
10 Missouri 29.4% $60,600 $78,390
11 California 28.8% $78,100 $100,600
12 New Hampshire 28.7% $86,900 $111,800
13 North Dakota 25.8% $70,030 $88,080
14 Mississippi 25.0% $44,790 $55,980
15 Ohio 24.5% $64,660 $80,520
16 South Dakota 24.3% $64,260 $79,850
17 Michigan 23.9% $64,120 $79,460
18 South Carolina 23.8% $62,030 $76,780
19 Idaho 23.7% $65,990 $81,650
20 Utah 23.0% $84,520 $104,000
21 Wisconsin 22.6% $67,350 $82,560
22 New York 20.8% $71,850 $86,830
23 Texas 20.8% $67,440 $81,490
24 Wyoming 20.8% $65,130 $78,680
25 New Mexico 20.8% $53,110 $64,140
26 Oregon 20.5% $74,410 $89,700
27 Virginia 20.2% $81,310 $97,720
28 Kansas 19.9% $73,150 $87,690
29 Arizona 19.9% $70,670 $84,700
30 Arkansas 18.9% $54,540 $64,840
31 Washington 18.3% $82,450 $97,500
32 New Jersey 18.0% $87,730 $103,500
33 Nebraska 17.9% $73,070 $86,140
34 West Virginia 17.6% $53,710 $63,150
35 Louisiana 17.5% $51,710 $60,740
36 Alabama 16.7% $56,200 $65,560
37 Alaska 16.4% $78,390 $91,260
38 Kentucky 16.4% $55,660 $64,790
39 Delaware 15.7% $74,190 $85,860
40 Indiana 15.0% $66,690 $76,710
41 Maryland 14.8% $95,570 $109,700
42 Vermont 14.7% $74,310 $85,260
43 Connecticut 13.7% $87,290 $99,240
44 Nevada 13.7% $70,910 $80,590
45 Pennsylvania 13.4% $70,580 $80,060
46 Minnesota 13.4% $81,430 $92,350
47 Illinois 13.2% $74,400 $84,210
48 District of Columbia 12.6% $93,110 $104,800
49 Hawaii 11.6% $88,010 $98,240
50 Oklahoma 9.9% $59,400 $65,310
51 North Carolina 9.9% $61,160 $67,220

Colorado’s thriving tech industry helped push median income up 46.9%, the fastest rise across states.

With $165,606 in average earnings across the sector in 2023, Colorado ranked sixth-highest nationally. From software to renewable energy, employment growth has expanded by double- or even triple-digit percentages across various roles since 2018.

Georgia ranks in a close second, with median incomes climbing 43.4%. In particular, the EV and aerospace sectors are playing a key role in job creation. Since 2018, the state has seen $27.3 billion in investment across EV, aerospace, and battery manufacturers including Rivian and SK Battery America.

Maine, meanwhile, saw wages rise 36.3%. In 2024, wages across the tech sector saw the steepest jump of 11.4% while those in the construction sector saw strong gains of 8.5%. Other factors, such as its older population and tight labor market, have further boosted wages.

Falling near the middle of the pack were New York and Texas, each with wage gains of 20.8% between 2019 and 2024.

By contrast, North Carolina and Oklahoma saw only 9.9% cumulative wage growth, the weakest performance nationwide. Median household income in both states remains well below the U.S. average and still trails pre-pandemic levels.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on average hourly earnings by state in 2025.