This is how much do Gen Zers make per average in every state
The presence of Gen Z workers continues to grow as they come of age. Their income is forecast to overtake millennials by 2031. What do they earn now?
Members of Gen Z are considered to be those who were born between 1996 and 2016 and people in this cohort are beginning to make their presence in the employment market felt. Workers between the ages 16 and 24, the first wave of Gen Z, now make up 12.8 percent of the civilian labor force in 2021 according to the most recent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As a whole, Gen Z is forecast to be the “most disruptive generation ever” because as consumers, they are much more aware of their buying habits than previous generations. And their purchasing power is expected to grow fast, quintupling during this decade according to a study by the Bank of American published in 2020. Gen Z workers’ income is estimated that it will increase to $33 trillion by 2030, accounting for more than a quarter of global income. The following year they are forecast to overtake millennials in economic power and will account for nearly 34 percent of the labor force.
The current median income, half earn more and half earn less, for a Gen Z worker nationwide is around $37,300 according to an analysis by GoBankingRates. That accounts for the incomes of all workers from the Gen Z cohort between 16 and 24, but the outlet broke the data down to split it into two groups, those workers that are 16-19 and 20-24. Each group’s respective median income level is $31,800 and $38,300 as of May 2023.
However, the United States is a large country with a diverse economy so incomes vary from state to state. Here is a look at the top and bottom ten states for Gen Z workers’ median income.
Ten states where Gen Z workers earn the most
| State | State’s median hourly income | Annual meidan income 16-24 years old |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $28.10 | $47,065.61 |
| Washington | $27.08 | $45,357.18 |
| New York | $25.23 | $42,258.55 |
| Alaska | $25.00 | $41,873.32 |
| Connecticut | $24.90 | $41,705.82 |
| Maryland | $24.72 | $41,404.33 |
| New Jersey | $24.56 | $41,136.35 |
| Colorado | $24.16 | $40,466.37 |
| California | $23.91 | $40,047.64 |
| Rhode Island | $23.73 | $39,746.15 |
Ten states where Gen Z workers earn the least
| State | State’s median hourly income | Annual meidan income 16-24 years old |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $17.36 | $29,076.83 |
| Arkansas | $17.92 | $30,014.79 |
| West Virginia | $18.16 | $30,416.78 |
| Alabama | $18.50 | $30,986.25 |
| South Carolina | $18.69 | $31,304.49 |
| Louisiana | $18.74 | $31,388.24 |
| Oklahoma | $18.80 | $31,488.73 |
| South Dakota | $19.17 | $32,108.46 |
| New Mexico | $19.19 | $32,141.96 |
| Tennessee | $19.20 | $32,158.71 |
For the full list of median incomes for Gen Z workers you can check out the analysis of all 50 states.