Looking for an Income Boost? 10 States With the Most Six-Figure Jobs
Roughly 20% of all U.S. job postings offer a six-figure salary. Sounds great, right? Here's the catch: they're clustered in a handful of states, and not all six-figure opportunities are created equal.
The real question isn't whether these jobs exist. It's whether you'll actually be better off chasing them. Some locations offer outsized opportunity. Others just offer outsized rent.
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We reviewed the newest study from JobLeads to find the top 10 states with the most six-figure jobs and broke down the real cost of living in each, because earning $150K in Hawaii means something very different than earning it in Colorado.
1. District of Columbia
84% of postings offering six figures
D.C. is in a league of its own. This is consulting, legal and federal contractor territory — and the demand is real. But there's a catch: your paycheck evaporates fast.
Cost of living: 39% higher than national average
Median home price: $1,323,567 (148% higher)
Median rent: $3,972
Food and grocery costs: 10% higher
2. Hawaii
40% of postings offering six figures
Compared to D.C., Hawaii only has a fraction of roles paying six figures. According to Indeed, these jobs include professor ($101,315) and veterinarian ($108,485). But costs are high.
Cost of living: 84% higher than national average (Honolulu)
Median home price: $1,597,574 (199% higher)
Median rent: $4,795
Utilities: 93% higher
Groceries: 32% higher
Transportation: 41% higher
3. California
40% of postings offering six figures
California ties with Hawaii for the second-highest concentration of six-figure jobs, many of which are in tech and biotech.
Cost of living: 52% higher than national average (Los Angeles)
Median home price: $1,257,335 (135% higher)
Median rent: $3,773
Utilities and groceries: 9% higher each
Transportation: 38% higher
4. Massachusetts
39% of postings offering six figures
Like California, but colder. Boston is stacked with tech and biotech positions, and the six-figure opportunities are solid. The cost-of-living premium is real, but slightly lower than California's.
Cost of living: 48% higher than national average (Boston)
Median home price: $1,181,489 (121% higher)
Median rent: $3,546
Utilities: 54% higher
Healthcare: 34% higher
5. Washington
31% of postings offering six figures
Seattle's tech dominance is real. Microsoft, Amazon and their ecosystem drive competitive salaries.
Cost of living: 45% higher than national average (Seattle)
Median home price: $1,087,483 (104% higher)
Median rent: $3,264
Groceries: 11% higher
Transportation: 34% higher
6. Illinois
29% of postings offering six figures
Big Tech and finance hubs dominate Chicago's six-figure landscape. Here's the kicker: the cost-of-living premium is one of the lowest in this top 10.
Cost of living: 18% higher than national average (Chicago)
Median home price: $768,075 (44% higher)
Median rent: $2,305
Transportation and groceries: 4% higher each
Healthcare: 16% higher
7. Maryland
27% of postings offering six figures
Maryland primarily makes this list due to its proximity to D.C., and its relatively high number of federal contractor roles. But costs aren’t low.
Cost of living: 27% higher than national average (Annapolis)
Median home price: $1,032,755 (93% higher)
Median rent: $3,099
Utilities: 18% higher
8. Alaska
22% of postings offering six figures
Management, legal and healthcare dominate Alaska's six-figure roles. Surprisingly, rent won't drain your account like it does elsewhere.
Cost of living: 25% higher than national average (Anchorage)
Median home price: $713,060 (34% higher)
Median rent: $2,140
Utilities: 11% higher
Groceries: 24% higher
Healthcare: 42% higher
9. Connecticut
22% of postings offering six figures
Connecticut punches above its weight. The cost of living is barely above the national average in Hartford, making this a dark horse for six-figure jobs without the coastal premium.
Cost of living: 2% higher than national average (Hartford)
Median home price: $471,634 (12% lower)
Median rent: $1,415
Utilities: 26% higher
Groceries and healthcare: 3% higher
Transportation: 4% higher
10. Colorado
20% of postings offering six figures
According to Indeed, jobs paying over six figures in Connecticut include aerospace engineer ($103,595/annually) and gynecologist/obstetrician ($201,487).
Cost of living: 10% higher than national average (Denver)
Median home price: $642,555 (20% higher)
Median rent: $1,928
Utilities: 13% lower
Healthcare: 19% higher
Why These States? Follow the Money (and the Industries)
There's a pattern here, and it's not random. Three industries are basically printing six-figure job postings:
Consulting — Nearly 50% of postings offer six figures
Legal — 34%
IT/Tech — 34%
But land the right role, and your odds skyrocket. These jobs typically earn six figures:
Software Architecture & Engineering in tech — 49% of postings offer six figures
Vice President in health and pharma — 99.83%
IT/Technology & SAP in consulting — 69%
Tax Law, Arbitration and Industrial Property Rights in legal — 90%
The takeaway: seniority and specialization matter more than just working in these industries.
Editor's note: All cost-of-living figures sourced from Payscale.
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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