The most recent information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the median annual wage for workers in the United States is approximately $48,080.
However, the typical yearly salary in the three states with the lowest worker incomes is less than $40,000. Notably, the South contains all but two of the ten states with the lowest incomes.
See the median wage for each state in the United States by examining the map below.
According to the BLS, Mississippi has the lowest-earning population in the US, with a median yearly salary of about $37,500.
This is partly because, according to St. Louis Fed data, just 1 in 4 adults in Mississippi have a bachelor's degree or higher, making the state home to one of the least educated populations in the nation.
According to the St. Louis Fed, Massachusetts is the most educated state with roughly 47% of its population holding a bachelor's degree or higher. This helps to explain why greater incomes are often correlated with higher levels of education.
An educated workforce can increase economic activity in the community by luring enterprises. Mississippi is among the worst states for business in part because of this.
According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center's state-by-state cost of living index, which is based on data from surveys conducted by the Council for Community and Economic Research, most of these states have relatively low costs of living even though local incomes are low when compared to the national average. According to MERIC, Oklahoma has the lowest cost of living, followed by Mississippi, which is ranked second.
New Mexico and South Carolina are a bit of an anomaly by this measure, even though the majority of the lowest-paying states are also among the least expensive places to live. According to MERIC's analysis, South Carolina's cost of living is about average across the board, whereas New Mexico has the 20th lowest cost of living.
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