MoneyLion logo
Sign In
Loans
Credit Cards
Instacash
Credit Builder Plus
RoarMoney Banking
Managed Investing
Credit Monitoring
Budgeting
WOW Membership
Games
Apr 27, 2026

How the Median Household Income Has Changed Since the 1980s in Every State

Written by Heather Taylor
|
Edited by Chris Cluff
Discover a close‑up of U.S. tax forms with a pen and calculator arranged beside sections for deductions and income details

Looking solely at original values, Americans are earning substantially higher salaries now than they were 40 years ago. But how do these incomes stack up once adjusted for inflation?

While the 40-year percentage change in household income amounts to more than 180% in every state at its original value, key findings from a new MoneyLion study indicate that just seven states have seen household incomes increase by 40% or more when adjusted for inflation over the same timeline.

Find More: Income Needed To Crack the Top 10% in Every State

Also See: 5 Signs You’re Losing Money Every Month — and How To Find the Leaks

To determine the difference between median household incomes in 1984 versus 2024, both at their original value and when adjusted for inflation, MoneyLion sourced the federal and state minimum wage from the Department of Labor. An inflation calculator was used to show the 2024 value of each state and year’s minimum wage.

MoneyLion then sourced the median household income from 1984 to 2024 via the Federal Reserve Economic Data and calculated each state and year’s actual and inflation adjusted values. The 40-year dollar and percentage changes were calculated.

Key Findings

  • Tennessee had the greatest income increase. Household incomes have ballooned by 352% at their original value and 49% when adjusted by inflation over 40 years.

  • Household incomes have shot up by more than 40% in seven states: Tennessee (49.4%), Utah (49%), Maine (45.2%), New Hampshire (42.6%), Iowa (42.2%), Rhode Island (41.1%) and North Dakota (40.1%).

  • Going off original values alone, there are 15 states where household incomes are 300% higher than they were in 1984. They are Tennessee (352.1%), Utah (351%), Maine (339.4%), New Hampshire (331.5%), Iowa (330.4%), Rhode Island (327.1%), North Dakota (324.1%), Massachusetts (322.5%), Montana (319.2%), Oregon (319.2%), Arkansas (313.8%), Colorado (312.8%), South Dakota (311.4%), Georgia (306.5%) and Nebraska (302.5%).

  • Only one state experienced negative salary growth. The median household income in Alaska has declined by 6.8% when adjusted for inflation.

Keep Financial Literacy Month going — learn how the MoneyLion app helps you track, manage and move your money in one place.

Need cash before payday? MoneyLion’s Instacash® can help you access up to $500 of your hard-earned cash before your next payday. No interest and no credit check required.
Get Instacash

Here’s how the average 2024 household income stacks up against 1984’s salaries.

1. Tennessee

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $53,560

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $80,001

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 352%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 49.4%

2. Utah

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $73,605

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $109,677

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 351%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 49%

3. Maine

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $65,912

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $95,683

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 339%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 45.2%

4. New Hampshire

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $82,701

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $117,903

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 331%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 42.6%

5. Iowa

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $63,391

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $90,146

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 330%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 42.2%

6. Rhode Island

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $68,976

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $97,328

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 327%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 41.1%

7. North Dakota

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $66,295

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $92,888

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 324%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 40.1%

8. Massachusetts

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $86,053

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $120,117

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 322%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 39.6%

9. Montana

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $62,369

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $86,392

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 319%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 38.5%

10. Oregon

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $68,306

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $94,596

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 319%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 38.5%

11. Arkansas

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $50,017

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $68,379

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 314%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 36.7%

12. Colorado

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $82,350

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $112,313

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 313%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 36.4%

13. South Dakota

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $61,954

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $84,209

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 311%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 35.9%

14. Georgia

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $63,774

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $85,643

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 306%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 34.3%

15. Nebraska

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $68,306

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $90,842

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 303%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 33%

16. Wisconsin

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $66,199

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $87,067

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 298%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 31.5%

17. California

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $80,723

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $106,091

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 298%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 31.4%

18. Arizona

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $68,402

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $89,323

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 295%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 30.6%

19. New York

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $70,317

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $91,570

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 294%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 30.2%

20. Pennsylvania

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $64,955

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $84,430

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 293%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 30%

Top Bank Accounts Worth Opening in 2026
Unlock Better Banking

21. Washington

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $79,861

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $102,822

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 290%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 28.8%

22. Idaho

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $67,317

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $86,107

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 287%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 27.9%

23. Florida

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $63,167

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $79,758

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 282%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 26.3%

24. Alabama

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $55,251

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $69,139

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 279%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 25.1%

25. South Carolina

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $64,827

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $80,971

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 278%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 24.9%

26. Minnesota

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $78,009

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $97,391

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 278%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 24.9%

27. Vermont

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $72,073

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $89,914

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 278%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 24.8%

28. Missouri

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $66,327

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $82,669

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 277%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 24.6%

29. West Virginia

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $53,751

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $66,597

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 275%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 23.9%

30. New Jersey

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $88,670

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $109,150

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 273%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 23.1%

31. Maryland

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $94,831

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $115,688

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 269%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 22%

32. Virginia

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $84,680

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $103,054

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 268%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 21.7%

33. Kentucky

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $56,432

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $68,327

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 266%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 21.1%

34. Mississippi

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $49,251

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $59,036

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 263%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 19.9%

35. Kansas

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $78,616

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $92,477

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 256%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 17.6%

36. Illinois

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $75,807

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $88,807

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 255%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 17.2%

37. Texas

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $73,477

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $85,938

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 254%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 17%

38. Ohio

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $73,796

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $84,915

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 248%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 15.1%

39. Michigan

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $73,317

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $83,797

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 246%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 14.3%

40. Hawaii

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $92,181

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $103,602

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 240%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 12.4%

Need cash before payday? MoneyLion’s Instacash® can help you access up to $500 of your hard-earned cash before your next payday. No interest and no credit check required.
Get Instacash

41. Indiana

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $72,679

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $80,897

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 237%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 11.3%

42. Delaware

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $82,414

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $90,547

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 233%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 9.9%

43. Connecticut

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $95,597

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $104,657

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 231%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 9.5%

44. Wyoming

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $76,030

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $82,975

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 230%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 9.1%

45. North Carolina

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $65,657

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $70,889

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 227%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 8%

46. Louisiana

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $60,486

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $64,056

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 221%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 5.9%

47. Nevada

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $82,287

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $84,989

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 213%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 3.3%

48. New Mexico

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $65,848

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $67,641

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 211%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 2.7%

49. Oklahoma

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $67,508

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $68,875

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 209%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): 2%

50. Alaska

  • 1984 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $103,289

  • 2024 median household income (adjusted for inflation): $96,241

  • 40-year % change in median household income (original value): 182%

  • 40-year % change in median household income (adjusted for inflation): -6.8%

Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed each state to find the median household salary from 1984 to 2024. The federal minimum wage was sourced from the Department of Labor. Using the inflation calculator from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the minimum wage for each state and each year was calculated to show the 2024 value. The median household income from 1984 to 2024 was sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the BLS's inflation calculator, the actual and inflation adjusted values were calculated for each state and each year. The 40-year dollar and percentage changes were calculated for the actual value and inflation-adjusted values. The states were sorted to first show the largest percentage increase in inflation-adjusted median household income. All data is up to date as of April 13, 2026.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

More From MoneyLion:

Written by
Heather Taylor
Edited by
Chris Cluff