States where wages are growing fastest in America
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
States where wages are growing fastest in America
Close-up of a business woman handing a check over
Did you receive a pay raise this year? If so, and it was enough to offset the increasing prices amid record inflation, polling suggests you’re in the minority.
Only 17% of Americans said their wages had kept up with record rates of inflation in early 2022, according to a poll commissioned by The New York Times. The prices of all goods and services went from increasing at a 2% rate annually in March 2021 to 8.5% by March 2022.
Earnings growth largely stagnated over the last decade for the typical American worker, growing at a rate of about 2% each year—a rate that began ticking upward as the COVID-19 pandemic’s arrival in 2020 put immense pressure on the U.S. workforce.
Women abandoned the workforce in droves as schools closed temporarily to in-person learning. Many child care providers also were forced to shutter permanently as families sheltered at home. Many older workers nearing retirement left their jobs. Since economies began roaring back to life across the country, employers struggled to find and attract workers and raise pay to entice new hires.
To identify the states where American workers have made the most gains, Stacker collected data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing the percent change in average weekly wages by state for the first quarter of 2022. States are ranked based on the percent change between the first quarter of 2021 and 2022. Any ties were broken by looking at a more precise calculation.
With a 2-1 ratio of job openings to people in the workforce for most of this year, workers have discovered newfound leverage to obtain higher pay and benefits by switching jobs.
Connecticut had the largest net change in average weekly wages, with an increase of $145. Connecticut is home to a large financial services industry and a relatively wealthy population compared to the rest of the nation, though, and ranked among the top 10 in terms of year-over-year change. The state that saw the largest percentage increase in wages year over year was Wyoming.
New York has the highest average weekly wages, at $1,972; Mississippi has the lowest, at $879. In Mississippi, however, the typical worker saw their pay increase by $69 from 2021 to 2022, ranking the Southern U.S. state in the upper half of wage growth. Mississippi is among the five states with no minimum wage law, and a legislative proposal to institute and gradually raise a minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2025 failed to become law this year.
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San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers // Getty Images
#50. California
Employees at work inside the offices of Highfive in Redwood City
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 1.0%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,644
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,627
– Net increase: $17
Jeff Greenberg // Getty Images
#49. Maryland
Front desk registration employees at a hotel
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 2.0%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,410
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,382
– Net increase: $28
EchoVisuals // Shutterstock
#48. Washington
Starbucks employees working
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 3.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,596
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,538
– Net increase: $58
Jeff Whyte // Shutterstock
#47. Hawaii
Busy intersection in the evening along the famous Kalakaua shopping district
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 4.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,135
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,089
– Net increase: $46
Mark Makela // Getty Images
#46. New Jersey
Employees work at an Amazon Fulfillment Center
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 4.6%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,606
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,535
– Net increase: $71
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Darryl Brooks // Shutterstock
#45. Alaska
Ketchikan shopping district
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 4.9%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,178
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,123
– Net increase: $55
Nick Starichenko // Shutterstock
#44. New York
Businessman crossing the street on crosswalk
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 5.6%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,972
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,868
– Net increase: $104
Boston Globe // Getty Images
#43. Massachusetts
Employees at work in the Kayak office
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 5.9%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,827
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,726
– Net increase: $101
Khairil Azhar Junos // Shutterstock
#42. West Virginia
Residential and commercial buildings in West Virginia
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 6.1%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $968
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $912
– Net increase: $56
Bill Pugliano // Getty Images
#41. Michigan
A worker handle parts for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 6.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,225
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,154
– Net increase: $71
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Robert Alexander // Getty Images
#40. New Mexico
An employee works at her computer in a home and office furniture and accessory store
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 6.5%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,018
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $956
– Net increase: $62
ImagineerInc // Shutterstock
#39. Virginia
The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 6.6%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,366
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,282
– Net increase: $84
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
#38. Rhode Island
Street scene from the town of Newport, Rhode Island
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 6.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,249
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,170
– Net increase: $79
Joe Ferrer // Shutterstock
#37. Minnesota
Workers install solar carport
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 6.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,374
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,287
– Net increase: $87
Ludmila Ruzickova // Shutterstock
#36. Pennsylvania
Long street of historical part of Harrisburg
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 6.9%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,309
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,225
– Net increase: $84
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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#35. North Dakota
Aerial view of Jamestown, North Dakota
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 6.9%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,106
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,035
– Net increase: $71
LanaG // Shutterstock
#34. Missouri
Window washer stands on ladder holding squeegee
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.0%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,128
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,054
– Net increase: $74
Sorbis // Shutterstock
#33. Illinois
Inside of Starbucks in Seattle
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.3%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,487
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,386
– Net increase: $101
Torgado // Shutterstock
#32. Oregon
Man wearing a headset working at a technology company call center
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.4%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,259
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,172
– Net increase: $87
Dustin Franz for The Washington Post // Getty Images
#31. Ohio
A chef works with his employees at a restaurant
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.5%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,179
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,097
– Net increase: $82
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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#30. Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona, downtown cityscape
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.5%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,234
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,148
– Net increase: $86
quiggyt4 // Shutterstock
#29. Delaware
View of the skyline of downtown Wilmington
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.5%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,362
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,267
– Net increase: $95
4kclips // Shutterstock
#28. Kentucky
Street view in Louisville downtown
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.6%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,038
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $965
– Net increase: $73
f11photo // Shutterstock
#27. Iowa
Des Moines Iowa skyline
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.6%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,080
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,004
– Net increase: $76
Robert Nickelsberg // Getty Images
#26. Vermont
Employees at the Simon Pearce glass company work on a handmade goblet
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.7%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,107
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,028
– Net increase: $79
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Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#25. New Hampshire
Historic town center of Exeter, New Hampshire
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 7.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,361
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,262
– Net increase: $99
RYO Alexandre // Shutterstock
#24. Nevada
Lobby and front desk of the newly opened hotel
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.0%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,164
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,078
– Net increase: $86
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#23. Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, downtown skyline
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.0%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,012
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $937
– Net increase: $75
George Frey // Getty Images
#22. Utah
A pharmacy technician grabs a bottle of drugs off a shelve
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,152
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,065
– Net increase: $87
Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock
#21. Alabama
Aerial view of downtown Mobile, Alabama
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,072
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $991
– Net increase: $81
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melissamn // Shutterstock
#20. Montana
Downtown streets of the small tourist town of Red Lodge
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.3%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $991
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $915
– Net increase: $76
B Brown // Shutterstock
#19. Idaho
A worker operating a CNC router mill
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.5%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $982
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $905
– Net increase: $77
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#18. Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi, cityscape at dusk
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.5%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $879
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $810
– Net increase: $69
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#17. South Dakota
Aerial view of the Sioux Falls Suburb of Canton, South Dakota
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.6%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,012
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $932
– Net increase: $80
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#16. Louisiana
New Orleans bars and restaurants in the day
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.6%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,058
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $974
– Net increase: $84
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PJiiiJane // Shutterstock
#15. Wisconsin
Walmart employees sorting products
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.7%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,137
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,046
– Net increase: $91
Grossinger // Shutterstock
#14. Texas
Construction workers in downtown El Paso, Texas
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.7%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,369
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,259
– Net increase: $110
RodClementPhotography // Shutterstock
#13. Georgia
Aerial view downtown Atlanta skyline
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,301
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,196
– Net increase: $105
Cara Siera // Shutterstock
#12. Tennessee
Employees work on LG washing machines
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,172
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,077
– Net increase: $95
Joe Amon // Getty Images
#11. Colorado
An employee working in her office at a desk
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 8.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,455
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,337
– Net increase: $118
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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#10. Kansas
Aerial view of Lawrence, Kansas
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 9.0%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,073
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $984
– Net increase: $89
Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock
#9. Nebraska
Skyline of Omaha, Nebraska
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 9.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,079
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $988
– Net increase: $91
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#8. South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina, downtown buildings
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 9.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,043
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $955
– Net increase: $88
GREG PATTON // Shutterstock
#7. Connecticut
Team of consturction workers working with concrete
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 9.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,716
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,571
– Net increase: $145
Joseph K Fuller // Shutterstock
#6. North Carolina
Construction workers welding
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 9.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,241
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,136
– Net increase: $105
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John Gress Media Inc // Shutterstock
#5. Indiana
Workers in a car body shop
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 9.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,127
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,026
– Net increase: $101
Boston Globe // Getty Images
#4. Maine
Factory worker uses a die cutting machine
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 10.3%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,103
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,000
– Net increase: $103
Joe Raedle // Getty Images
#3. Florida
A Target store employee collects shopping carts
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 10.8%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,222
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $1,103
– Net increase: $119
shuttersv // Shutterstock
#2. Arkansas
View of Walmart Museum downtown Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 10.9%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,060
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $956
– Net increase: $104
Kit Leong // Shutterstock
#1. Wyoming
Sunny cityscape of downtown Cheyenne
– 1-year increase in weekly wages: 11.2%
– Q1 2022 average weekly wages: $1,059
– Q1 2021 average weekly wages: $952
– Net increase: $107
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