How Much the Average Gen Zer Makes in Your State

Older  members of Gen Z, the generation commonly recognized as being born between 1997 and 2012, watched their parents suffer financial strife during the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009. The older Gen Zers have lived through many financial woes of their own, first through the pandemic, and now through inflation.

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As a generation partially shaped by large-scale financial uncertainties, Gen Z tends to take a practical and more conservative approach to their finances. So how are they faring when it comes to earning power right now?

To help you understand how much money Gen Z makes in different areas across the nation, GOBankingRates evaluated various factors, including median hourly earnings for all occupations in every state, to find the median weekly and annual earnings for 16-to-24-year-olds. For supplemental data, GOBankingRates also found median weekly and annual earnings for 16-to-19-year-olds and 20-to-24-year-olds, as well as the salary index, which shows how that state's earnings stack up compared to the national average.

But this data isn't only useful for knowing how Gen Zers' incomes measure up against each other -- it also will help you understand how Gen Z's income measures up to that of the typical American.

Alabama

• Median hourly earnings: $18.50

• Salary index: 0.831

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $30,986.25

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $26,405.30

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $31,850.58

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Alaska

• Median hourly earnings: $25.00

• Salary index: 1.123

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $41,873.32

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $35,682.84

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $43,041.33

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Arizona

• Median hourly earnings: $21.77

• Salary index: 0.978

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $36,463.28

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $31,072.62

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $37,480.39

Arkansas

• Median hourly earnings: $17.92

• Salary index: 0.805

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $30,014.79

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $25,577.46

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $30,852.03

California

• Median hourly earnings: $23.91

• Salary index: 1.074

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $40,047.64

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $34,127.07

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $41,164.73

Colorado

• Median hourly earnings: $24.16

• Salary index: 1.085

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $40,466.37

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $34,483.90

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $41,595.14

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Connecticut

• Median hourly earnings: $24.90

• Salary index: 1.119

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $41,705.82

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $35,540.11

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $42,869.16

Delaware

• Median hourly earnings: $22.67

• Salary index: 1.018

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $37,970.72

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $32,357.20

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $39,029.88

Florida

• Median hourly earnings: $19.62

• Salary index: 0.881

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $32,862.18

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $28,003.89

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $33,778.84

Georgia

• Median hourly earnings: $20.62

• Salary index: 0.926

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $34,537.11

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $29,431.21

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $35,500.49

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Hawaii

• Median hourly earnings: $23.35

• Salary index: 1.049

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $39,109.68

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $33,327.77

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $40,200.60

Idaho

• Median hourly earnings: $19.26

• Salary index: 0.865

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $32,259.20

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $27,490.06

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $33,159.04

Illinois

• Median hourly earnings: $22.83

• Salary index: 1.026

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $38,238.71

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $32,585.57

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $39,305.34

Indiana

• Median hourly earnings: $20.24

• Salary index: 0.909

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $33,900.64

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $28,888.83

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $34,846.26

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Iowa

• Median hourly earnings: $21.32

• Salary index: 0.958

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $35,709.56

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $30,430.33

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $36,705.65

Kansas

• Median hourly earnings: $20.13

• Salary index: 0.904

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $33,716.39

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $28,731.82

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $34,656.88

Kentucky

• Median hourly earnings: $19.32

• Salary index: 0.868

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $32,359.70

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $27,575.70

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $33,262.34

Louisiana

• Median hourly earnings: $18.74

• Salary index: 0.842

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $31,388.24

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $26,747.86

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $32,263.78

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Maine

• Median hourly earnings: $21.84

• Salary index: 0.981

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $36,580.53

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $31,172.53

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $37,600.91

Maryland

• Median hourly earnings: $24.72

• Salary index: 1.111

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $41,404.33

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $35,283.19

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $42,559.27

Massachusetts

• Median hourly earnings: $28.10

• Salary index: 1.262

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $47,065.61

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $40,107.51

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $48,378.45

Michigan

• Median hourly earnings: $21.88

• Salary index: 0.983

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $36,647.53

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $31,229.62

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $37,669.77

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Minnesota

• Median hourly earnings: $23.44

• Salary index: 1.053

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $39,260.42

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $33,456.23

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $40,355.55

Mississippi

• Median hourly earnings: $17.36

• Salary index: 0.780

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $29,076.83

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $24,778.16

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $29,887.90

Missouri

• Median hourly earnings: $20.34

• Salary index: 0.914

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $34,068.13

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $29,031.56

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $35,018.43

Montana

• Median hourly earnings: $20.29

• Salary index: 0.912

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $33,984.38

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $28,960.19

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $34,932.34

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Nebraska

• Median hourly earnings: $21.20

• Salary index: 0.952

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $35,508.57

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $30,259.05

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $36,499.05

Nevada

• Median hourly earnings: $19.62

• Salary index: 0.881

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $32,862.18

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $28,003.89

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $33,778.84

New Hampshire

• Median hourly earnings: $23.04

• Salary index: 1.035

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $38,590.45

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $32,885.30

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $39,666.89

New Jersey

• Median hourly earnings: $24.56

• Salary index: 1.103

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $41,136.35

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $35,054.82

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $42,283.80

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New Mexico

• Median hourly earnings: $19.19

• Salary index: 0.862

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $32,141.96

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $27,390.15

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $33,038.52

New York

• Median hourly earnings: $25.23

• Salary index: 1.133

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $42,258.55

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $36,011.12

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $43,437.31

North Carolina

• Median hourly earnings: $20.10

• Salary index: 0.903

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $33,666.15

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $28,689.00

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $34,605.23

North Dakota

• Median hourly earnings: $22.79

• Salary index: 1.024

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $38,171.71

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $32,528.48

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $39,236.48

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Ohio

• Median hourly earnings: $21.52

• Salary index: 0.967

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $36,044.55

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $30,715.79

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $37,049.98

Oklahoma

• Median hourly earnings: $18.80

• Salary index: 0.845

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $31,488.73

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $26,833.50

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $32,367.08

Oregon

• Median hourly earnings: $22.97

• Salary index: 1.032

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $38,473.20

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $32,785.39

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $39,546.37

Pennsylvania

• Median hourly earnings: $22.02

• Salary index: 0.989

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $36,882.02

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $31,429.44

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $37,910.80

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Rhode Island

• Median hourly earnings: $23.73

• Salary index: 1.066

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $39,746.15

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $33,870.15

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $40,854.83

South Carolina

• Median hourly earnings: $18.69

• Salary index: 0.840

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $31,304.49

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $26,676.49

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $32,177.70

South Dakota

• Median hourly earnings: $19.17

• Salary index: 0.861

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $32,108.46

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $27,361.60

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $33,004.09

Tennessee

• Median hourly earnings: $19.20

• Salary index: 0.863

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $32,158.71

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $27,404.42

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $33,055.74

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Texas

• Median hourly earnings: $20.90

• Salary index: 0.939

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $35,006.09

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $29,830.85

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $35,982.55

Utah

• Median hourly earnings: $21.38

• Salary index: 0.960

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $35,810.06

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $30,515.96

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $36,808.95

Vermont

• Median hourly earnings: $22.75

• Salary index: 1.022

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $38,104.72

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $32,471.38

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $39,167.61

Virginia

• Median hourly earnings: $23.22

• Salary index: 1.043

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $38,891.94

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $33,142.22

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $39,976.79

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Washington

• Median hourly earnings: $27.08

• Salary index: 1.217

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $45,357.18

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $38,651.65

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $46,622.37

West Virginia

• Median hourly earnings: $18.16

• Salary index: 0.816

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $30,416.78

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $25,920.01

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $31,265.22

Wisconsin

• Median hourly earnings: $21.95

• Salary index: 0.986

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $36,764.77

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $31,329.53

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $37,790.29

Wyoming

• Median hourly earnings: $21.85

• Salary index: 0.982

• Median annual earnings (16-24 years old): $36,597.28

• Median annual earnings (16-19 years old): $31,186.80

• Median annual earnings (20-24 years old): $37,618.12

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_{Methodology: To find out how much Gen Z makes in every state, GOBankingRates first found the (1) median hourly earnings for all occupations in every state. This figure was then compared to the national median hourly earnings to give each state a (2) salary index. GOBankingRates then took the national median weekly earnings of 16-to-24 year-olds and factored it out for each state using factor (2) to find each state's (3) median weekly earnings of 16-to-24 year-olds and (4) median annual earnings of 16-to-24 year-olds. For supplemental data, GOBankingRates also found: (5) median weekly earnings of 16-to-19 year-olds; (6) median annual earnings of 16-to-19 year-olds; (7) median weekly earnings of 20-to-24 year-olds and (8) median annual earnings of 20-to-24 year-olds. All data was collected and is up to date as of May 11, 2023.}

Jami Farkas and Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the reporting of this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much the Average Gen Zer Makes in Your State