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