We looked at what the annual income would need to be to put someone in the top 25% and top 10% of earners in each state.
Updated 7 min read
What does it mean to be rich? Many people associate it with a specific dollar amount, like having an annual salary of $100,000. But an income of $100,000 can take you further in South Dakota than in California.
To understand what “rich” means in every state, we looked at what the annual income would need to be to put someone in the top 25% and top 10% of earners in that state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Mississippi has the lowest threshold for the top 10%, at just $69,720. But you would need to earn at least $164,200 annually in Washington, D.C. to be in the top 10% of earners. That’s by far the highest threshold for the top 10% of earners in the U.S.
In 14 states, you would need an annual income of at least $100,000 to be in the top 10% of earners. Most states (34) require you to earn between $75,000 and $100,000 annually if you want to be in the state’s top 10%.
Here’s a breakdown for each state.
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $53,310 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $79,630
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $73,460 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $103,080
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $58,660 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $90,730
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $49,140 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $73,310
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $73,110 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $117,590
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $67,570 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $104,110
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $75,060 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $110,770
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $65,330 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $100,550
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $117,820 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $164,200
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $54,450 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $82,490
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $58,950 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $92,480
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $64,050 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $96,270
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $52,580 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $78,260
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $66,670 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $101,170
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $54,530 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $79,410
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $55,810 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $80,040
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $54,970 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $80,980
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $52,470 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $76,150
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $52,620 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $76,890
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $55,640 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $80,190
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $74,300 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $115,230
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $78,870 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $121,350
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $60,970 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $91,320
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $65,690 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $98,270
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $47,550 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $69,720
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $56,480 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $83,570
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $53,250 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $76,610
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $56,420 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $81,770
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $55,790 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $83,360
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $62,590 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $96,690
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $72,700 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $111,920
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $55,510 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $85,340
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $75,610 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $119,950
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $56,100 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $86,970
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $60,040 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $83,530
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $59,100 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $86,470
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $53,060 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $79,510
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $62,850 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $96,410
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $61,050 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $92,850
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $67,900 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $100,110
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $52,070 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $77,740
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $48,550 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $70,610
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $53,310 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $79,360
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $60,450 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $93,670
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $58,290 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $87,930
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $59,520 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $85,540
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $68,440 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $110,140
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $73,060 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $110,400
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $51,290 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $75,710
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $57,700 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $82,950
Annual income needed to be in the top 25% of earners: $60,770 Annual income needed to be in the top 10% of earners: $82,980
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