Best and Worst States to Make A Living 2012 – Complete List

See the full 2012 rankings of all 50 states for MoneyRates.com's Best States to Make a Living series.

Written by Kristin Marino

Financial Expert

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Key Takeaways

Virginia was the best state to earn a living in 2012.
Hawaii was the worst state to earn a living in 2012.
Four states out of the top 10 were in the west: Washington, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah.

For the second year in a row, MoneyRates has crunched data on income, cost of living, taxes, and unemployment to make its lists of the Best and Worst States to Make a Living.

These rankings are determined by an adjusted average income figure for each state, a number that factors together the four variables above to determine each state’s relative standing for career-related conditions.

For more info on the best and worst states on the list, please see the 2012 Best States to Make Living and Worst States to Make a Living lists.

Here are the rankings of all 50 states, complete with each state’s adjusted average income figure:

To see how the states have shifted in the last year, see the 2011 50-state rankings.

Kristin Marino

Managing Editor

Kristin Marino is a seasoned voice in the finance and education sectors, with rich experience spanning decades as a writer and editor. Kristin has lent her editorial financial expertise to platforms like MoneyRates, The Balance, and MoneyGeek. With a keen ability to distill complex financial concepts into accessible insights, she remains dedicated to guiding readers toward informed financial choices.