Where degrees and paychecks go together
States with more college graduates have higher household incomes, with a few telling exceptions.
States with higher Bachelor’s Degree or Higher tend to have higher Median Household Income.
Very strong link: a correlation of 0.83 across 51 states.CorrelationHow closely two metrics move together, from −1 to +1. Near +1: both rise together. Near −1: one rises as the other falls. Near 0: no clear link.More in the glossary →
More degrees and higher pay go together at the state level, partly because college-educated workers earn more and partly because high-paying industries cluster where graduates live.
Each dot in the chart is one of 51 states. The correlation between Bachelor’s Degree or Higher and Median Household Income is 0.83, a very strong relationship: about 69% of the differences in Median Household Income from place to place line up with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher. Ranked instead of measured, the link is 0.84.
The highest Median Household Income is in District of Columbia ($109,870), Massachusetts ($103,960) and Maryland ($103,678); the lowest is in Mississippi ($56,447), West Virginia ($59,608) and Louisiana ($60,756). The median state has $77,485 for Median Household Income and 34.6% for Bachelor’s Degree or Higher.
The biggest exceptions sit furthest from the trend line. Hawaii, Alaska and California have a much higher Median Household Income than their Bachelor’s Degree or Higher would predict, while District of Columbia, Vermont and New Mexico have a much lower one.
This is a comparison across places, not proof that one causes the other: both can follow from something else, such as income, age or how urban a place is. Bachelor’s Degree or Higher is from 2024 and Median Household Income from 2024.
Highest Median Household Income
| Place | Median Household Income | Bachelor’s Degree or Higher |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,870 | 64.2% |
| Massachusetts | $103,960 | 47.3% |
| Maryland | $103,678 | 43.4% |
| New Jersey | $103,556 | 43.6% |
| Hawaii | $100,389 | 36.1% |
Lowest Median Household Income
| Place | Median Household Income | Bachelor’s Degree or Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $56,447 | 25.1% |
| West Virginia | $59,608 | 24.1% |
| Louisiana | $60,756 | 27.0% |
| Arkansas | $60,773 | 25.7% |
| Kentucky | $63,726 | 27.6% |
Explore it yourself
- Open this comparison in the interactive chart to highlight places, change the metrics or colour by party.
- Full ranking and sources for Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
- Full ranking and sources for Median Household Income