Best and Worst States to Make A Living 2011 – Complete List
Edited by
Kristin Marino 
Also see the most recent Best States to Make a Living feature
You’ve seen the 10 best states for making a living and the 10 worst states for making a living. Now check out MoneyRates’s full ranking of states for making a living, from the best to the worst.
States are ranked by their adjusted average incomes, which is the average income for each state after taking into account state taxes, unemployment rates and cost of living.
| Top states for making a living | ||||||
| Ranking | State | Adjusted average income | Ranking | State | Adjusted average income | |
| 1 | Illinois | $41,986.51 | 26 | Alaska | $35,015.52 | |
| 2 | Washington | $41,455.73 | 27 | South Dakota | $34,952.96 | |
| 3 | Texas | $41,427.12 | 28 | Kentucky | $34,877.67 | |
| 4 | Virginia | $41,120.49 | 29 | Maryland | $34,752.51 | |
| 5 | Delaware | $39,104.64 | 30 | New York | $34,599.53 | |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $38,664.86 | 31 | Iowa | $34,553.03 | |
| 7 | Georgia | $38,228.47 | 32 | Idaho | $34,393.37 | |
| 8 | Tennessee | $38,038.27 | 33 | Arizona | $34,317.48 | |
| 9 | Colorado | $38,020.24 | 34 | North Carolina | $34,181.22 | |
| 10 | Minnesota | $37,721.99 | 35 | Florida | $34,110.86 | |
| 11 | Wyoming | $37,699.79 | 36 | New Jersey | $33,854.94 | |
| 12 | Ohio | $37,472.30 | 37 | New Mexico | $33,838.78 | |
| 13 | Michigan | $37,427.11 | 38 | Louisiana | $33,278.64 | |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $37,084.61 | 39 | Arkansas | $32,968.21 | |
| 15 | Kansas | $36,971.74 | 40 | Nevada | $32,745.48 | |
| 16 | Missouri | $36,594.35 | 41 | South Carolina | $31,636.27 | |
| 17 | Nebraska | $36,549.33 | 42 | West Virginia | $31,357.15 | |
| 18 | Indiana | $36,401.98 | 43 | Mississippi | $30,952.90 | |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $35,990.56 | 44 | Rhode Island | $30,611.87 | |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $35,764.70 | 45 | Oregon | $30,343.10 | |
| 21 | Utah | $35,665.57 | 46 | Vermont | $29,985.60 | |
| 22 | North Dakota | $35,365.30 | 47 | California | $29,772.40 | |
| 23 | Alabama | $35,232.41 | 48 | Montana | $29,495.73 | |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $35,121.11 | 49 | Maine | $29,159.19 | |
| 25 | Connecticut | $35,037.91 | 50 | Hawaii | $22,107.96 | |
Our reviews are unbiased and thorough, focusing on consumer needs. For details, see our Editorial Policy & Methodology.
