Here's how much money you need to earn to be in the top 1% in every U.S. state (2024)

Being considered rich isn't just about how much money you make, it's where you live, too.

State by state, the incomes the top 1% of earners in the U.S. bring in vary by over a half million dollars, according to a new analysis of 2022 incomes by personal finance website SmartAsset.

To be in the top 1% of earners in Connecticut, residents need an adjusted gross income of at least $955,261. However, in West Virginia, they only need to earn an AGI of $374,712 to be part of the top 1%.

For comparison, the median income for U.S. households overall is under $70,000, with only 10% of households earning more than $200,000, according to SmartAsset.

Coastal states like New York and California tend to have the highest earners, while top earners in more rural states like Mississippi and Arkansas make less. Only 12 states require annual earnings less than $500,000 to be considered in the top 1%.

To calculate these numbers, the analysis updated 2018 income data from the Internal Revenue Service using 2022 Consumer Price Index data to account for inflation.

Below are the incomes needed to be part of both the top 1% and top 5% of earners in each state. States are listed in descending order, starting with the state with the highest income threshold for the top 1%.

Connecticut

  • Top 1% income threshold: $955,261
  • Top 5% income threshold: $336,866

Massachusetts

  • Top 1% income threshold: $896,932
  • Top 5% income threshold: $349,737

New Jersey

  • Top 1% income threshold: $825,965
  • Top 5% income threshold: $338,884

New York

  • Top 1% income threshold: $817,796
  • Top 5% income threshold: $287,752

California

  • Top 1% income threshold: $805,519
  • Top 5% income threshold: $317,791

Washington

  • Top 1% income threshold: $736,084
  • Top 5% income threshold: $312,907

Colorado

  • Top 1% income threshold: $682,897
  • Top 5% income threshold: $288,694

Florida

  • Top 1% income threshold: $678,816
  • Top 5% income threshold: $243,617

Illinois

Texas

  • Top 1% income threshold: $641,449
  • Top 5% income threshold: $258,369

Virginia

  • Top 1% income threshold: $635,705
  • Top 5% income threshold: $294,495

Wyoming

  • Top 1% income threshold: $635,458
  • Top 5% income threshold: $233,212

New Hampshire

  • Top 1% income threshold: $634,464
  • Top 5% income threshold: $281,154

Maryland

  • Top 1% income threshold: $634,255
  • Top 5% income threshold: $287,246

Minnesota

  • Top 1% income threshold: $616,326
  • Top 5% income threshold: $264,140

Pennsylvania

  • Top 1% income threshold: $591,900
  • Top 5% income threshold: $250,528

Georgia

  • Top 1% income threshold: $586,207
  • Top 5% income threshold: $242,967

North Dakota

  • Top 1% income threshold: $578,237
  • Top 5% income threshold: $240,797

Utah

  • Top 1% income threshold: $577,024
  • Top 5% income threshold: $239,222

Nevada

  • Top 1% income threshold: $571,593
  • Top 5% income threshold: $221,842

North Carolina

  • Top 1% income threshold: $554,221
  • Top 5% income threshold: $238,562

Oregon

  • Top 1% income threshold: $551,004
  • Top 5% income threshold: $246,539

South Dakota

  • Top 1% income threshold: $549,189
  • Top 5% income threshold: $219,642

Arizona

  • Top 1% income threshold: $546,798
  • Top 5% income threshold: $235,447

Rhode Island

  • Top 1% income threshold: $545,345
  • Top 5% income threshold: $240,792

Kansas

  • Top 1% income threshold: $539,002
  • Top 5% income threshold: $231,855

Tennessee

  • Top 1% income threshold: $535,065
  • Top 5% income threshold: $220,362

Alaska

  • Top 1% income threshold: $529,327
  • Top 5% income threshold: $250,103

Delaware

  • Top 1% income threshold: $526,858
  • Top 5% income threshold: $241,817

Wisconsin

  • Top 1% income threshold: $514,561
  • Top 5% income threshold: $223,102

Montana

  • Top 1% income threshold: $514,013
  • Top 5% income threshold: $216,789

Michigan

  • Top 1% income threshold: $511,240
  • Top 5% income threshold: $225,673

Nebraska

  • Top 1% income threshold: $510,981
  • Top 5% income threshold: $224,759

Idaho

  • Top 1% income threshold: $508,126
  • Top 5% income threshold: $217,945

South Carolina

  • Top 1% income threshold: $506,496
  • Top 5% income threshold: $219,743

Vermont

  • Top 1% income threshold: $502,425
  • Top 5% income threshold: $193,396

Missouri

  • Top 1% income threshold: $427,917
  • Top 5% income threshold: $186,671

Ohio

  • Top 1% income threshold: $422,373
  • Top 5% income threshold: $182,635

Louisiana

  • Top 1% income threshold: $417,948
  • Top 5% income threshold: $212,223

Hawaii

  • Top 1% income threshold: $487,092
  • Top 5% income threshold: $231,685

Maine

  • Top 1% income threshold: $486,893
  • Top 5% income threshold: $215,213

Oklahoma

  • Top 1% income threshold: $483,606
  • Top 5% income threshold: $210,109

Iowa

  • Top 1% income threshold: $474,160
  • Top 5% income threshold: $217,390

Indiana

  • Top 1% income threshold: $471,007
  • Top 5% income threshold: $208,917

Alabama

  • Top 1% income threshold: $466,719
  • Top 5% income threshold: $209,636

Kentucky

  • Top 1% income threshold: $447,370
  • Top 5% income threshold: $199,963

Arkansas

  • Top 1% income threshold: $446,276
  • Top 5% income threshold: $198,233

New Mexico

  • Top 1% income threshold: $418,970
  • Top 5% income threshold: $201,646

Mississippi

  • Top 1% income threshold: $383,128
  • Top 5% income threshold: $181,094

West Virginia

Here's how much money you need to earn to be in the top 1% in every U.S. state (1)

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Here's how much money you need to earn to be in the top 1% in every U.S. state (2024)

FAQs

Here's how much money you need to earn to be in the top 1% in every U.S. state? ›

To be in the top 1% of earners, you're looking at an average annual income of $819,324.

How much money do you need to be in the top 1% of the US? ›

To be in the top 1% of earners, you're looking at an average annual income of $819,324.

How much money do you need to be in the top 1% of the world? ›

You now need a net worth of at least $5.8 million in order to be part of that small but elite group, according to the upcoming 2024 wealth report from Knight Frank. That is a notable 12% increase from the $5.1 million needed just one year ago.

How much money do you have to have to be in the top 1% of your age group? ›

Top 1% income for ages 27-31: $170,000. Top 1% income for ages 32-36: $210,000. Top 1% income for ages 37-41: $260,000. Top 1% income for ages 42-46: $320,000.

How wealthy do you need to be in the top 1%? ›

In the United States, this number stood at $5.8 million last year. Despite the 1% being considered ultra-rich, Knight Frank remarks that many of the world's 1% are not actually ultra-high-net-worth individuals with assets of over $30 million.

What income is middle class? ›

As of 2022 (the most recent Census data), the average median household income in the U.S. was $73,914, meaning the national range for the middle class is roughly $49,271 to $147,828. Across the nation's largest cities, the range is between $51,558 and $154,590, according to SmartAsset.

What is top 1% net worth? ›

In the U.S., it may take you $5.81 million to be in the top 1%, but it takes a minimum net worth of $30 million to be considered among the ultra-high net worth crowd. As of the end of 2023, this ultra-high net worth population is on the rise, reaching 626,000 globally, up from just over 600,000 a year earlier.

What is considered wealthy in America? ›

In the United States, the concept of being rich is often a subject of discussion, curiosity and, sometimes, aspiration. Charles Schwab's 2023 Modern Wealth Survey provides insights into this topic, revealing that the average American equates being wealthy with a net worth of approximately $2.2 million.

What is the top 5 net worth in the US? ›

The most recent data from the Fed's Survey of Consumer Finances took a snapshot of the American public at the end of 2022. At that point, a net worth of $3,795,000 was enough to put you in the top 5% of all American households.

Can you live off 7 million dollars? ›

Retiring with $7 million means you can bid adieu to financial anxiety. You've amassed a significant nest egg that, when managed prudently, can provide you with a stable and worry-free income for the rest of your life. Basic living expenses like housing, healthcare and groceries will no longer keep you up at night.

How much money a month is considered rich? ›

The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year. What Is a Rich Monthly Income? The amount of money you need to make each month to be rich depends on which metric you're using. If you're going by the IRS standard, then you'd need to make approximately $45,000 a month to be rich.

What is the average salary of the top 1% in the US? ›

Entering the top 1% of earners requires an average annual income of $819,324. In the highest echelon — the top 0.1% — the average income is $3.3 million.

How many US citizens make 100k a year? ›

In 2022, over 34% of American households made over $100,000. This puts you in the top 24% of the US population.

What is a good income for a single person? ›

But just how much does a single person in California need to make to live comfortably? A new study from Smart Asset determined that a person must make at least $ 89,190 to get by comfortably.

How much wealth does the top 0.01 have? ›

The top 0.01% richest individuals—the 520,000 people who have at least $19 million— now hold 11% of the world's wealth, up a full percentage point from 2020, the report found.

Is $6 million rich? ›

You now need a net worth of $5.8 million to be among the richest 1% of Americans, report finds. Americans need a net worth just south of $6 million to break into the richest 1%.

What is considered wealthy in the US? ›

In the United States, the concept of being rich is often a subject of discussion, curiosity and, sometimes, aspiration. Charles Schwab's 2023 Modern Wealth Survey provides insights into this topic, revealing that the average American equates being wealthy with a net worth of approximately $2.2 million.

What is the top 0.5 net worth? ›

Data on net worth distributions within the top 1% indicate that one enters the top 0.5% with about $1.8M, the top 0.25% with $3.1M, the top 0.10% with $5.5M and the top 0.01% with $24.4M. Wealth distribution is highly skewed towards the top 0.01%, increasing the overall average for this group.

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