Here’s How Wages Have Grown in Every State Over 10 Years
It’s all about making that paper, and wages are one of the biggest factors shaping your financial life. However, depending on where you live, your paycheck may not be growing at the rate you would hope. Over the past decade, wage growth in the U.S. has been uneven, with some states seeing significant income gains while others have barely kept up with inflation.
So, how much have wages actually increased where you live? And more important: Are you really earning more, or just paying more for everything? To answer these questions, MoneyLion broke out the income calculator to study just how income has changed in every state over the last five-year and 10-year span.
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Key Findings
The national average inflation rate in 2016 was 1%, whereas that rate is now 2.4% in 2026.
The five-year cumulative increase in the national inflation rate was 24%, with the 10-year cumulative increase reaching a whopping 31%.
Just 28 states have seen wages increase at a rate at least matching inflation over the past five years.
In eight states -- New Hampshire, Illinois, Delaware, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, California and Maryland -- the five-year increase in weekly wages was less than $200.
In only the two states of Hawaii and Washington did wages increase over $500 a week in the last 10 years.
Whether you’re considering a move, negotiating a raise or just curious about how your income stacks up, this state-by-state guide will give you a clearer picture of real wage growth trends across America. For perspective, states are ranked by their percentage change in five-year wage growth.
1. Idaho
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,223
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 38.5%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 67.9%
2. Mississippi
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,025
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 35.8%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 48.5%
3. North Dakota
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,247
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 34.7%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 44.2%
4. Georgia
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,269
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 34.4%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 52.4%
5. Oklahoma
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,129
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 33.4%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 48.6%
6. Texas
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,292
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 33.3%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 47.6%
7. Montana
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,118
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 33.2%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 61.4%
8. Oregon
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,276
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 32.8%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 55.6%
9. Florida
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,242
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 30.9%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 58.7%
10. Wyoming
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,172
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 30.0%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 51.5%
11. Washington
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,551
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 29.9%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 49.4%
12. Colorado
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,325
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 28.9%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 45.3%
13. Arkansas
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,052
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 28.7%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 54.2%
14. Vermont
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,199
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 28.4%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 49.4%
15. Virginia
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,328
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 28.3%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 43.7%
16. Rhode Island
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,277
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 28.3%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 51.4%
17. Kentucky
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,082
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 28.2%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 47.7%
18. Alabama
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,175
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 27.5%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 50.8%
19. Alaska
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,355
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 27.3%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 42.5%
20. New Mexico
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,048
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 27.1%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 52.4%
21. Ohio
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,159
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 26.6%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 47.8%
22. Hawaii
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,346
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 26.5%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 62.6%
23. North Carolina
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,196
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 26.3%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 51.5%
24. Kansas
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,121
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 25.9%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 47.4%
25. Nevada
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,136
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 25.9%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 53.2%
26. Arizona
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,213
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 25.2%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 50.6%
27. Wisconsin
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,161
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 24.5%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 46.7%
28. West Virginia
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,083
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 24.4%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 48.9%
29. Missouri
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,112
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 23.0%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 51.6%
30. Louisiana
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,123
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 23.0%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 42.9%
31. Utah
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,209
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 23.0%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 44.1%
32. Tennessee
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,114
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 22.8%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 49.2%
33. Maine
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,120
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 22.3%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 49.6%
34. Nebraska
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,103
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 22.2%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 44.9%
35. South Dakota
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,038
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 21.8%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 46.8%
36. South Carolina
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,152
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 21.7%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 53.6%
37. Pennsylvania
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,158
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 21.5%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 40.1%
38. Michigan
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,167
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 21.0%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 42.0%
39. Indiana
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,124
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 20.7%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 41.0%
40. Massachusetts
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,454
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 18.7%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 41.6%
41. Connecticut
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,357
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 18.6%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 35.2%
42. New Jersey
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,339
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 18.1%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 42.0%
43. New Hampshire
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,191
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 17.0%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 38.8%
44. Illinois
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,241
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 16.9%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 38.3%
45. Delaware
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,095
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 16.8%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 36.7%
46. Iowa
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,056
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 16.8%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 35.8%
47. Minnesota
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,301
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 16.6%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 46.7%
48. New York
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,340
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 16.3%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 36.7%
49. California
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,419
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 14.1%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 44.3%
50. Maryland
Usual weekly earnings (as of February 2026): $1,264
5-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 12.1%
10-year percentage change in weekly earnings: 35.4%
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Methodology: The national inflation rates for each year from February 2014 to February 2026 were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. The usual weekly earnings were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for each state for February 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and 2026. The states were sorted by the largest percentage increase in five-year wage growth. All data is up to date as of May 20, 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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