Exact amount you need to earn per year to be considered 'rich' in each US state revealed in new study

A study has looked at the amount of money you would need in each US state to be considered 'rich'.

Defining 'rich' is a more complicated question than you might think, factors such as inflation and different market rates mean that $1,000 might go a lot further in one place than another.

Or you could think about how in 2026 expensive consumer items such as televisions, furniture, or technology are more affordable compared to 40 years ago, but the cost of necessities like housing, utilities, and medical bills has risen ahead of wages in the US.

Maybe being rich is also more like feeling comfortable eating tiny portions of food in a restaurant, because you're not worried about where the next meal will come from.

But here we're going to take a look at a more solid figure, and a more straightforward approach - being in the top 10 percent of earners.

Of course, wages are also not the only measure of wealth, as this doesn't account for other forms of wealth such as property or stock holdings, but wages are the measure we're using.

There's rich and there's rich (OsakaWayne Studios/Getty)

We'll start with the lowest in West Virginia, where earning $198,000 a year will put you in the top 10 percent of earners in the state.

From there we more into the middle territory, which stretch from $200k up to $300k year, which brings us up to the top 10 most expensive states.

At the lower end of this section is Mississippi, at $200,900 a year, as well as Arkansas at $206k and Oklahoma at $206,800.

As we move up towards the top end of the middle we get to Minnesota with $270,300, and New Hampshire at $302,500.

Finally, we get into the top ten states which are all over $325k for you to sit in the top 10 percent.

These are the most expensive states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, New York, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Maryland, and Rhode Island.

You need to be earning a lot to be in the top 10 percent in one state (seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Getty)

Interestingly however, the gap between being in the top 10 percent of earners and the median house price is bigger in these states.

Hannah Jones, senior economic research at Realtor.com, told the New York Post: “In the nation’s most expensive housing markets, Hawaii, New York, California, and Massachusetts, a $200,000 income would make only about 50% to 55% of homes affordable."

While in West Virginia the top 10 percent of earners means $198k, the average house price is $249k, or about 1.26 times bigger.

Meanwhile in Massachusetts the higher income is $386,800, and the average house price is $615k, around 1.59 times higher.

But there's one state where things are head and shoulders above the rest.

This is Washington DC, the District of Colombia, where to get into the top 10 percent of earners you'd need to be earning $635k a year.

Of course, it paints a vivid picture when can be in the top 10 percent of earners, but would still have to take out a hefty mortgage to buy a house.

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