How Much You Need to Make to Be in the Top 1% in Every US State

  • SmartAsset determined the income needed to be in the top 1% in each US state.
  • In 2025, the top 1% comprises about 1.5 million households.
  • On average, it takes an annual income of $731,492 to be in the top 1% across states.

Have you ever wondered how much money the 1% makes?

While the ultrawealthy often hold their fortune in a mix of assets, the salary earned by the top 1% is still sizable — but it might vary largely depending on which state you look at.

While earning $416,310 a year puts you in the top 1% of earners in West Virginia, it takes over a million dollars to be in the top 1% in Connecticut.

A recent SmartAsset study calculated the income needed — or the income floor — to be in the top 1% of earners in each US state, using 2022 IRS tax return data for individual tax filers adjusted to May 2025 dollars using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index.

The study, which was released in July, also calculated the number of 2022 tax returns for each state that would be considered in the top 1% of earners.

Here’s how each US state fared.

Alabama


An aerial view of Huntsville, Alabama.

Alabama has the seventh-lowest income floor for the top 1% when compared to all states.



Jeremy Poland/Getty Images

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $532,600

Number of top 1% returns: 20,185

Alaska


anchorage Alaska

Alaska has the third-smallest number of top 1% earners, with 3,223 tax returns qualifying.


TripWalkers/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $586,381

Number of top 1% returns: 3,223

Arizona


Phoenix, Arizona.

It takes an annual income of $641,262 to be in the top 1% in Arizona.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $641,262

Number of top 1% returns: 31,872

Arkansas


Little Rock, Arkansas.

Arkansas has the fifth-lowest income floor for the top 1% when compared to all states.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $517,761

Number of top 1% returns: 12,198

California


Los Angeles, California.

California has the largest number of top 1% earners out of all the states.


Marek Masik/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $905,396

Number of top 1% returns: 175,045

Colorado


Denver, Colorado.

Colorado has the eighth-highest income floor for the top 1%.


Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $772,989

Number of top 1% returns: 27,685

Connecticut


New Haven, Connecticut

Connecticut is the only state where you need to earn more than $1 million to be in the top 1%.


f11photo/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $1,056,996

Number of top 1% returns: 16,917

Delaware


Wilmington, Delaware.

It takes an annual income of $578,580 to be in the top 1% in Delaware.


Real Window Creative/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $578,580

Number of top 1% returns: 4,726

Florida


Miami, Florida.

Florida has the third-largest number of top 1% earners, with 105,101 tax returns qualifying.


Bilanol/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $859,381

Number of top 1% returns: 105,101

Georgia


Atlanta, Georgia.

It takes an annual income of $662,821 to be in the top 1% in Georgia.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $662,821

Number of top 1% returns: 46,220

Hawaii


Honolulu, Hawaii.

It takes an annual income of $561,147 to be in the top 1% in Hawaii.


Ronnie Chua/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $561,147

Number of top 1% returns: 6,472

Idaho


Boise, Idaho.

It takes an annual income of $627,839 to be in the top 1% in Idaho.


Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $627,839

Number of top 1% returns: 8,145

Illinois


Chicago, Illinois.

It takes an annual income of $731,202 to be in the top 1% in Illinois.


RomanSlavik.com/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $731,202

Number of top 1% returns: 56,794

Indiana


Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indiana has the sixth-lowest income floor for the top 1% when compared to all states.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $531,332

Number of top 1% returns: 30,120

Iowa


Des Moines, Iowa.

It takes an annual income of $554,046 to be in the top 1% in Iowa.


Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $554,046

Number of top 1% returns: 13,821

Kansas


Wichita, Kansas.

It takes an annual income of $609,946 to be in the top 1% in Kansas.


Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $609,946

Number of top 1% returns: 12,643

Kentucky


Louisville, Kentucky.

Kentucky has the fourth-lowest income floor for the top 1%.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $496,281

Number of top 1% returns: 18,395

Louisiana


New Orleans, Louisiana.

It takes an annual income of $551,125 to be in the top 1% in Louisiana.


Cavan-Images/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $551,125

Number of top 1% returns: 18,593

Maine


Portland, Maine.

Maine has the 10th-lowest income floor for the top 1% when compared to all states.


PTAP Aerial/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $550,936

Number of top 1% returns: 6,618

Maryland


Baltimore, Maryland

Maryland has the 10th-highest income floor for the top 5%, who earn at least $304,250 a year.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $677,543

Number of top 1% returns: 29,040

Massachusetts


Boston, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts had the second-highest income floor for the top 1%.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $965,170

Number of top 1% returns: 32,795

Michigan


Detroit, Michigan.

It takes an annual income of $561,582 to be in the top 1% in Michigan.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $561,582

Number of top 1% returns: 45,218

Minnesota


Minneapolis, Minnesota.

It takes an annual income of $671,408 to be in the top 1% in Minnesota.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $671,408

Number of top 1% returns: 26,423

Mississippi


Jackson, Mississippi.

Mississippi has the second-lowest income floor for the top 1%.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $439,479

Number of top 1% returns: 11,731

Missouri


Kansas City, Missouri.

It takes an annual income of $559,043 to be in the top 1% in Missouri.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $559,043

Number of top 1% returns: 26,898

Montana


Billings, Montana.

It takes an annual income of $656,830 to be in the top 1% in Montana.


trekandshoot/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $656,830

Number of top 1% returns: 5,101

Nebraska


Omaha, Nebraska.

It takes an annual income of $603,899 to be in the top 1% in Nebraska.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $603,899

Number of top 1% returns: 8,660

Nevada


Las Vegas, Nevada.

It takes an annual income of $703,713 to be in the top 1% in Nevada.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $703,713

Number of top 1% returns: 14,754

New Hampshire


Manchester, New Hampshire.

New Hampshire has the 8th-highest income floor for the top 5%, who earn at least $311,145.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $735,374

Number of top 1% returns: 6,796

New Jersey


Newark, New Jersey.

New Jersey has the third-highest income floor for the top 1%.


FotosForTheFuture/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $901,082

Number of top 1% returns: 43,042

New Mexico


Albuquerque, New Mexico.

New Mexico has the third-lowest income floor for the top 1%.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $451,639

Number of top 1% returns: 9,310

New York


New York City.

New York has the fifth-highest income floor for the top 1% when compared to all states.


phototrip2403/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $891,640

Number of top 1% returns: 91,840

North Carolina


Charlotte, North Carolina.

It takes an annual income of $640,783 to be in the top 1% in North Carolina.


Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $640,783

Number of top 1% returns: 46,525

North Dakota


Fargo, North Dakota.

North Dakota has the fourth-smallest number of top 1% earners, with 3,431 tax returns qualifying.


Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $695,759

Number of top 1% returns: 3,431

Ohio


Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio has the ninth-lowest income floor for the top 1%.


Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $550,724

Number of top 1% returns: 53,103

Oklahoma


Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has the eighth-lowest income floor for the top 1%.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $544,679

Number of top 1% returns: 16,106

Oregon


Portland, Oregon.

It takes an annual income of $603,006 to be in the top 1% in Oregon.


Jesper A/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $603,006

Number of top 1% returns: 19,053

Pennsylvania


Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has the fifth-largest population of top 1% earners, with 58,541 tax returns qualifying.


photosounds/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $655,636

Number of top 1% returns: 58,541

Rhode Island


Providence, Rhode Island.

It takes an annual income of $603,162 to be in the top 1% in Rhode Island.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $603,162

Number of top 1% returns: 5,224

South Carolina


Charleston, South Carolina.

It takes an annual income of $580,600 to be in the top 1% in South Carolina.


Ayrton Rojo Arango/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $580,600

Number of top 1% returns: 23,203

South Dakota


Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

South Dakota has the fifth-smallest number of top 1% earners, with 4,062 tax returns qualifying.


Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $687,190

Number of top 1% returns: 4,062

Tennessee


Nashville, Tennessee.

It takes an annual income of $638,299 to be in the top 1% in Tennessee.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $638,299

Number of top 1% returns: 30,531

Texas


Houston, Texas.

Texas has the second-largest number of top 1% earners, with 128,130 tax returns qualifying.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $743,955

Number of top 1% returns: 128,130

Utah


Salt Lake City, Utah.

It takes an annual income of $690,548 to be in the top 1% in Utah.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $690,548

Number of top 1% returns: 13,991

Vermont


Burlington, Vermont.

Vermont has the second-smallest number of top 1% earners, with 3,123 tax returns qualifying.


Erika J Mitchell/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $583,559

Number of top 1% returns: 3,123

Virginia


Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Virginia has the seventh-highest income floor for the top 5%, who earn at least $314,694.


Kyle J Little/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $701,792

Number of top 1% returns: 39,103

Washington


Seattle, Washington.

Washington has the seventh-highest income floor for the top 1%.


Pavlo Kikot/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $819,101

Number of top 1% returns: 35,597

West Virginia


Charleston, West Virginia.

West Virginia has the lowest income floor for the top 1%.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $416,310

Number of top 1% returns: 7,316

Wisconsin


Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

It takes an annual income of $566,711 to be in the top 1% in Wisconsin.


Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $566,711

Number of top 1% returns: 27,293

Wyoming


Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Wyoming has the smallest number of top 1% earners, with 2,611 tax returns qualifying.


Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

Income floor for top 1% of earners: $771,369

Number of top 1% returns: 2,611

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