How Much You Need To Join the Top 10% in Each State
Start upskilling now if you want to make enough money to be among the 10% wealthiest residents in your state. Data in a new study from MoneyLion indicates the top 10% earn three times the median income in all but two states.
To estimate earnings for each state’s top 10%, MoneyLion used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2024 American Community Survey on the mean income in the top quintile (20%) of earners. These figures were then compared to the overall median household income.
Key Findings
To crack the top 10% in every state, Americans need to earn at least $200,000 annually.
The top 10% earn 200% more than the median income in 48 states. Only two states are on the lowest and highest earning ends: Utah at 195% and New York at a whopping 310%.
Connecticut leads the nation with the highest top 10% income at $370,003. The top 10% make more than $300,000 in 10 more states, including Massachusetts ($368,568), California ($362,311), New Jersey ($361,445), New York ($351,650), Washington ($348,503), Maryland ($332,112), Colorado ($325,808), Hawaii ($322,263), Virginia ($321,091) and New Hampshire ($310,569).
Median household incomes aren’t keeping up across the majority of states. California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey are the only five states with six-figure median household incomes.
Here’s the income needed to crack the top 10% in every state.
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Alabama
Top 10% income: $229,344
Median household income: $66,659
Top 10% earns:
3.44 times median income
244% more than the median income
$162,685 more than median income
Alaska
Top 10% income: $291,368
Median household income: $95,665
Top 10% earns:
3.05 times median income
205% more than the median income
$195,703 more than median income
Arizona
Top 10% income: $275,969
Median household income: $81,486
Top 10% earns:
3.39 times median income
239% more than the median income
$194,483 more than median income
Arkansas
Top 10% income: $215,812
Median household income: $62,106
Top 10% earns:
3.47 times median income
247% more than the median income
$153,706 more than median income
California
Top 10% income: $362,311
Median household income: $100,149
Top 10% earns:
3.62 times median income
262% more than the median income
$262,162 more than median income
Colorado
Top 10% income: $325,808
Median household income: $97,113
Top 10% earns:
3.35 times median income
235% more than the median income
$228,695 more than median income
Connecticut
Top 10% income: $370,003
Median household income: $96,049
Top 10% earns:
3.85 times median income
285% more than the median income
$273,954 more than median income
Delaware
Top 10% income: $277,672
Median household income: $87,534
Top 10% earns:
3.17 times median income
217% more than the median income
$190,138 more than median income
Florida
Top 10% income: $280,649
Median household income: $77,735
Top 10% earns:
3.61 times median income
261% more than the median income
$202,914 more than median income
Georgia
Top 10% income: $275,780
Median household income: $79,991
Top 10% earns:
3.45 times median income
245% more than the median income
$195,789 more than median income
Hawaii
Top 10% income: $322,263
Median household income: $100,745
Top 10% earns:
3.20 times median income
220% more than the median income
$221,518 more than median income
Idaho
Top 10% income: $247,052
Median household income: $81,166
Top 10% earns:
3.04 times median income
204% more than the median income
$165,886 more than median income
Illinois
Top 10% income: $296,443
Median household income: $83,211
Top 10% earns:
3.56 times median income
256% more than the median income
$213,232 more than median income
Indiana
Top 10% income: $234,070
Median household income: $71,959
Top 10% earns:
3.25 times median income
225% more than the median income
$162,111 more than median income
Iowa
Top 10% income: $228,760
Median household income: $75,501
Top 10% earns:
3.03 times median income
203% more than the median income
$153,259 more than median income
Kansas
Top 10% income: $252,211
Median household income: $75,514
Top 10% earns:
3.34 times median income
234% more than the median income
$176,697 more than median income
Kentucky
Top 10% income: $220,123
Median household income: $64,526
Top 10% earns:
3.41 times median income
241% more than the median income
$155,597 more than median income
Louisiana
Top 10% income: $224,960
Median household income: $60,986
Top 10% earns:
3.69 times median income
269% more than the median income
$163,974 more than median income
Maine
Top 10% income: $252,850
Median household income: $76,442
Top 10% earns:
3.31 times median income
231% more than the median income
$176,408 more than median income
Maryland
Top 10% income: $332,112
Median household income: $102,905
Top 10% earns:
3.23 times median income
223% more than the median income
$229,207 more than median income
Massachusetts
Top 10% income: $368,568
Median household income: $104,828
Top 10% earns:
3.52 times median income
252% more than the median income
$263,740 more than median income
Michigan
Top 10% income: $247,459
Median household income: $72,389
Top 10% earns:
3.42 times median income
242% more than the median income
$175,070 more than median income
Minnesota
Top 10% income: $284,139
Median household income: $87,117
Top 10% earns:
3.26 times median income
226% more than the median income
$197,022 more than median income
Mississippi
Top 10% income: $203,678
Median household income: $59,127
Top 10% earns:
3.44 times median income
244% more than the median income
$144,551 more than median income
Missouri
Top 10% income: $241,970
Median household income: $71,589
Top 10% earns:
3.38 times median income
238% more than the median income
$170,381 more than median income
Montana
Top 10% income: $251,910
Median household income: $75,340
Top 10% earns:
3.34 times median income
234% more than the median income
$176,570 more than median income
Nebraska
Top 10% income: $241,818
Median household income: $76,376
Top 10% earns:
3.17 times median income
217% more than the median income
$165,442 more than median income
Nevada
Top 10% income: $274,355
Median household income: $81,134
Top 10% earns:
3.38 times median income
238% more than the median income
$193,221 more than median income
New Hampshire
Top 10% income: $310,569
Median household income: $99,782
Top 10% earns:
3.11 times median income
211% more than the median income
$210,787 more than median income
New Jersey
Top 10% income: $361,445
Median household income: $104,294
Top 10% earns:
3.47 times median income
247% more than the median income
$257,151 more than median income
New Mexico
Top 10% income: $230,629
Median household income: $67,816
Top 10% earns:
3.40 times median income
240% more than the median income
$162,813 more than median income
New York
Top 10% income: $351,650
Median household income: $85,820
Top 10% earns:
4.10 times median income
310% more than the median income
$265,830 more than median income
North Carolina
Top 10% income: $266,462
Median household income: $73,958
Top 10% earns:
3.60 times median income
260% more than the median income
$192,504 more than median income
North Dakota
Top 10% income: $255,287
Median household income: $77,871
Top 10% earns:
3.28 times median income
228% more than the median income
$177,416 more than median income
Ohio
Top 10% income: $242,410
Median household income: $72,212
Top 10% earns:
3.36 times median income
236% more than the median income
$170,198 more than median income
Oklahoma
Top 10% income: $226,486
Median household income: $66,148
Top 10% earns:
3.42 times median income
242% more than the median income
$160,338 more than median income
Oregon
Top 10% income: $271,007
Median household income: $85,220
Top 10% earns:
3.18 times median income
218% more than the median income
$185,787 more than median income
Pennsylvania
Top 10% income: $273,195
Median household income: $77,545
Top 10% earns:
3.52 times median income
252% more than the median income
$195,650 more than median income
Rhode Island
Top 10% income: $287,597
Median household income: $83,504
Top 10% earns:
3.44 times median income
244% more than the median income
$204,093 more than median income
South Carolina
Top 10% income: $244,213
Median household income: $72,350
Top 10% earns:
3.38 times median income
238% more than the median income
$171,863 more than median income
South Dakota
Top 10% income: $241,833
Median household income: $76,881
Top 10% earns:
3.15 times median income
215% more than the median income
$164,952 more than median income
Tennessee
Top 10% income: $254,695
Median household income: $71,997
Top 10% earns:
3.54 times median income
254% more than the median income
$182,698 more than median income
Texas
Top 10% income: $286,707
Median household income: $79,721
Top 10% earns:
3.60 times median income
260% more than the median income
$206,986 more than median income
Utah
Top 10% income: $285,518
Median household income: $96,658
Top 10% earns:
2.95 times median income
195% more than the median income
$188,860 more than median income
Vermont
Top 10% income: $271,056
Median household income: $82,730
Top 10% earns:
3.28 times median income
228% more than the median income
$188,326 more than median income
Virginia
Top 10% income: $321,091
Median household income: $92,090
Top 10% earns:
3.49 times median income
249% more than the median income
$229,001 more than median income
Washington
Top 10% income: $348,503
Median household income: $99,389
Top 10% earns:
3.51 times median income
251% more than the median income
$249,114 more than median income
West Virginia
Top 10% income: $201,400
Median household income: $60,798
Top 10% earns:
3.31 times median income
231% more than the median income
$140,602 more than median income
Wisconsin
Top 10% income: $242,227
Median household income: $77,488
Top 10% earns:
3.13 times median income
213% more than the median income
$164,739 more than median income
Wyoming
Top 10% income: $250,919
Median household income: $75,532
Top 10% earns:
3.32 times median income
232% more than the median income
$175,387 more than median income
Methodology: MoneyLion used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2024 American Community Survey on the mean income in the top quintile (20%) of earners to estimate earnings for the top 10%. MoneyLion then compared this figure to the overall median household income in the U.S. for context. All data was collected on Jan. 7, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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