What Are the 10 U.S. States With the Highest Average Hourly Real Wages?

Real wages in the United States climbed to an average of $35.06 per hour in 2024, but the gains are far from evenly distributed.

Washington, D.C. leads the nation with wages nearly twice those of Mississippi, driven by its dense cluster of federal jobs—25% of its workforce—particularly in the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.

Massachusetts follows with an average of $41.36, reflecting its dominance in biotechnology, engineering, and world-class education from institutions like Harvard and MIT.

Washington State comes in third at $41.07, supported by one of the highest minimum wages in the country.

In total, five of the ten top-paying states are located in the West. At the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi and New Mexico report the lowest wages, highlighting deep regional inequalities tied to economic output, industry structure, and persistently high levels of extreme poverty.