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The US states with the highest average Social Security checks for retired workers

The US states with the highest average Social Security checks for retired workers and how the 2025 COLA will impact the payments

Maite Knorr-Evans
Maite Knorr-Evansmaiteknorrevans
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US cities you can retire with $2,000 a month

Social Security benefit amounts are determined based on the income of the qualified recipient during the quarters they contribute to the program and the age at which they retire. Waiting to retire until one reaches their full retirement age entitles a beneficiary to a higher payment, though benefits can begin to be claimed by workers at 62.

Earlier this year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) published data from December 2023 on the number of retired workers they sent checks to and the total funds distributed during that month. By dividing the total sum by the number of recipients, we captured the average benefit by state.

States with the highest and lowest average payments

At $2,113.55, retirees in Connecticut saw the highest average Social Security checks in December 2023. Across the state, the payment sizes vary from $1,975 in the Northeastern region of the state, also known as the Quiet Region, to $2,319 in the Western region closure to New York City.

Following Connecticut were retirees in New Jersey ($2,110.41), New Hampshire ($2,094.43), Delaware ($2,089.60), and Maryland ($2,054.45).

States where the average Social Security check was above $2,000/month (December 2023)

  1. Connecticut: $2,113.55
  2. New Jersey: $2,110.41
  3. New Hampshire: $2,094.43
  4. Delaware: $2,089.60
  5. Maryland: $2,054.45
  6. Washington: $2,021.79
  7. Minnesota: $2,015.58
  8. Massachusetts: $2,002.60

At the other end of the spectrum are Mississippi ($1,755.81) and Louisiana ($1,759.21), which also happen to be two of the 3 states (plus the District of Colombia) where more than fourteen percent of seniors live in poverty.

Average Social Security check for retired workers in December 2023

  • Alabama: $1,855.76
  • Alaska: $1,837.49
  • Arizona: $1,949.20
  • Arkansas: $1,789.74
  • California: $1,865.85
  • Colorado: $1,957.84
  • Connecticut: $2,113.55
  • Delaware: $2,089.60
  • District of Columbia: $1,916.82
  • Florida: $1,893.70
  • Georgia: $1,858.92
  • Hawaii: $1,908.40
  • Idaho: $1,880.27
  • Illinois: $1,934.05
  • Indiana: $1,965.67
  • Iowa: $1,921.35
  • Kansas: $1,982.01
  • Kentucky: $1,802.88
  • Louisiana: $1,759.21
  • Maine: $1,815.69
  • Maryland: $2,054.45
  • Massachusetts: $2,002.60
  • Michigan: $1,997.23
  • Minnesota: $2,015.58
  • Mississippi: $1,755.81
  • Missouri: $1,869.32
  • Montana: $1,817.31
  • Nebraska: $1,937.23
  • Nevada: $1,842.52
  • New Hampshire: $2,094.43
  • New Jersey: $2,110.41
  • New Mexico: $1,799.23
  • New York: $1,951.32
  • North Carolina: $1,909.33
  • North Dakota: $1,855.97
  • Ohio: $1,857.72
  • Oklahoma: $1,856.29
  • Oregon: $1,917.65
  • Pennsylvania: $1,978.59
  • Rhode Island: $1,971.58
  • South Carolina: $1,926.13
  • South Dakota: $1,848.29
  • Tennessee: $1,889.61
  • Texas: $1,865.43
  • Utah: $1,988.23
  • Vermont: $1,960.91
  • Virginia: $1,984.79
  • Washington: $2,021.79
  • West Virginia: $1,838.85
  • Wisconsin: $1,957.05
  • Wyoming: $1,950.46

Is the same COLA applied in all states?

Yes. Regardless of the fact that the cost of living, and prices changes, vary widely across the country, all Social Security recipients receive the same COLA, or Cost-of-living Adjustment. Starting in January, a 2.5 percent COLA will be applied to benefits that will help to erase some of the destructive power inflation exudes on Social Security benefits.

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