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US states where adults without bachelor's degrees can earn the most, ranked by median earnings
Maryland has the highest median income for adults with some college or an associate degree.Sean Pavone/Getty ImagesThe rising costs of higher education are prompting some people to reconsider four-year degrees.Higher educational attainment is associated with higher earnings across all 50 US states.Adults with some college or an associate degree earn the most in Maryland, with a median of $55,301.The cost of higher education across the US continues to rise, and for many Americans, the decision to pursue a four-year degree is as much a financial calculation as an academic one.Some of the benefits of a college education are intangible, such as the development of character, independence, and critical thinking that come from four years of organized instruction.But going to college can also lead to an earnings premium. Across the US, bachelor's degree-holders earn an average of 38.6% more than adults with an associate degree or those who attended some college but did not complete a four-year degree.That translates to an average earnings gap of about $18,539 a year across states.Business Insider analyzed earnings data from the US Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey and ranked states by the median earnings for adults 25 and older with some college or an associate degree, to account for people who may have pursued careers in more technical trades after graduating from high school. We also identified the median earnings for high school graduates in each state.Across all states, higher levels of education were largely associated with higher median earnings.The. ranking does not adjust for differences in cost of living across states, which often overlap with educational attainment levels and can affect how far those earnings go. States with large professional labor markets are often ranked among the highest-cost-of-living states.Still, for people who decide to forgo a four-year education, these are the states ranked by median earnings, from lowest to highest.50. ArkansasEduardo Medrano/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $41,732Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,020Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $57,15249. MississippiDennis MacDonald/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $41,781Median earnings for high school graduates: $35,287Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $55,48148. New MexicoSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $42,468Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,038Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $56,15947. LouisianaSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,459Median earnings for high school graduates: $35,973Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $59,91746. West VirginiaSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,674Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,207Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $56,96745. OklahomaSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,787Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,015Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,00644. MontanaPhoto Spirit/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $43,921Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,322Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $56,45743. WyomingHeidi Besen/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $44,339Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,543Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $54,21342. North CarolinaSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $44,474Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,689Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,17041. FloridaBilanol/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,172Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,044Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,61840. AlabamaCavan-Images/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,321Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,147Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $61,18339. KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky. 44% of Kentucky's revenue consisted of federal funding.Alexey Stiop/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,352Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,137Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,85438. MissouriMihai_Andritoiu/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,360Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,568Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,09137. TennesseeSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,492Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,835Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,65436. MichiganSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,580Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,399Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $66,49735. IdahoCSNafzger/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,707Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,114Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,19834. KansasMihai_Andritoiu/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,825Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,694Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,53433. South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina.Mihai_Andritoiu/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,860Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,043Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $63,73132. GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $45,919Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,311Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $70,58231. NevadaMossaab Shuraih/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,278Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,969Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,78230. OhioRudy Balasko/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,601Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,810Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $67,59129. VermontMihai_Andritoiu/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $46,998Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,859Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $61,94928. NebraskaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,163Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,356Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,02126. (tie) TexasCavan-Images/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,269Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,098Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $69,49426. (tie) MaineSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,269Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,689Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,44225. OregonJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,544Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,165Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $69,56224. IllinoisJaySi/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,598Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,132Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $72,62523. ArizonaGerald Peplow/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,923Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,518Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $67,46622. IndianaSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $47,929Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,985Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $63,36721. IowaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $48,062Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,765Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,24420. Pennsylvaniaphotosounds/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $48,250Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,765Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $70,26119. DelawareReal Window Creative/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,094Median earnings for high school graduates: $39,495Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,67318. New YorkEvgeny Karandaev/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,538Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,608Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $76,76017. UtahSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,669Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,405Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,29916. South DakotaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $49,698Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,822Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $58,20715. Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,264Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,251Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $69,49614. WisconsinMihai_Andritoiu/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,315Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,333Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $65,69713. VirginiaSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,450Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,012Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $75,57512. HawaiiMarcus E Jones/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $50,549Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,373Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $62,96911. CaliforniaRobert Harding Video/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,031Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,535Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $80,87410. ColoradoMihai_Andritoiu/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,247Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,010Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $75,6378. (tie) North DakotaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,644Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,787Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $60,5608. (tie) New JerseyJersey City, New Jersey.OlegAlbinsky/Getty ImagesMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,644Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,624Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $81,1077. ConnecticutPaul Brady Photography/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $51,686Median earnings for high school graduates: $44,573Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $77,8796. MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota.joe daniel price/Getty ImagesMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,185Median earnings for high school graduates: $42,121Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $72,5385. MassachusettsBoston, Massachusetts.Terelyuk/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,218Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,742Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $81,7844. New HampshireSean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $52,513Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,609Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $71,6693. WashingtonSeattle, Washington.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $53,857Median earnings for high school graduates: $47,996Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $81,6402. AlaskaAnchorage, Alaska.Jacob Boomsma/ShutterstockMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $54,950Median earnings for high school graduates: $45,904Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $69,0311. MarylandMaryland.Kruck20/Getty ImagesMedian earnings for adults with some college or associate degree: $55,301Median earnings for high school graduates: $45,273Median earnings for adults with a bachelor's degree: $79,242Read the original article on Business Insider
