DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
The cost of living is widely different across the United States, where being “rich” in one state might mean tough living in another. “Rich” is a subjective term, and the place you live in has a lot to do with whether you can consider yourself truly wealthy.
Explore More: Here’s the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper-Middle Class in 2025
Consider This: These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle
To get an idea of what it looks like to be rich in America, GOBankingRates used census data to conduct a study of the top incomes as they break down by state. It lays out what income level is needed to place you in the top 20% and the top 5% of incomes within your state.
Check out how much money you need to be “rich” in your state.
Sean Pavone / iStock.com
Davel5957 / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,599
Average income of the top 20%: $197,286
Average income of the top 5%: $340,667
Read Next: Here’s the Cost of Living in Every State
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $117,42 5
Average income of the top 20%: $212,270
Average income of the top 5%: $385,873
Davel5957 / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $123,991
Average income of the top 20%: $219,022
Average income of the top 5%: $395,106
Davel5957 / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $125,328
Average income of the top 20%: $219,134
Average income of the top 5%: $389,979
SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $126, 786
Average income of the top 20%: $219, 518
Average income of the top 5%: $384,048
Learn More: Here’s How Much the Definition of Middle Class Has Changed in the South
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $12 7,403
Average income of the top 20%: $21 6,944
Average income of the top 5%: $373,030
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $127,473
Average income of the top 20%: $223,489
Average income of the top 5%: $394,301
Sean Pavone / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $132,078
Average income of the top 20%: $238,504
Average income of the top 5%: $435,202
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $132,444
Average income of the top 20%: $226,387
Average income of top 5%: $396,992
Find Out: The Living Wage a Family of 4 Needs in All 50 States
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $132,847
Average income of the top 20%: $237,160
Average income of the top 5%: $428,094
miroslav_1 / Getty Images
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $133,497
Average income of the top 20%: $237,041
Average income of the top 5%: $430,052
lynngrae / Getty Images
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $133,630
Average income of the top 20%: $230,785
Average income of the top 5%: $414,593
f11photo / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $133,864
Average income of the top 20%: $234,836
Average income of the top 5%: $420,563
Check Out: The Salary Needed To Afford America’s 50 Biggest Cities
traveler1116 / Getty Images
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $136,246
Average income of the top 20%: $237,659
Average income of the top 5%: $420,966
traveler1116 / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $136,582
Average income of the top 20%: $231,690
Average income of the top 5%: $405,907
christiannafzger / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $137,435
Average income of the top 20%: $240,204
Average income of the top 5%: $431,824
RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $138,318
Average income of the top 20%: $237,505
Average income of the top 5%: $418,624
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $139,072
Average income of the top 20%: $249,042
Average income of top 5%: $446,248
Davel5957 / iStock.com
pawel.gaul / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $139,438
Average income of the top 20%: $240,130
Average income of the top 5%: $419,606
Explore More: Renting vs. Owning a Home — Which Will Be Cheaper in 2025?
©Shutterstock.com
LPETTET / Getty Images
espiegle / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $141,755
Average income of the top 20%: $266,051
Average income of the top 5%: $499,610
Solange_Z / Getty Images
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $143,797
Average income of the top 20%: $246,410
Average income of the top 5%: $437,736
Discover More: 20 Best Cities Where You Can Buy a House for Under $100K
Stan Shebs / Wikimedia Commons
dszc / iStock.com
SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $148,795
Average income of the top 20%: $264,953
Average income of the top 5%: $472,175
SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $150,413
Average income of the top 20%: $252,655
Average income of top 5%: $434,633
For You: How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?
©iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $150,592
Average income of the top 20%: $266,309
Average income of the top 5%: $473,542
floop / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $153,315
Average income of the top 20%: $272,904
Average income of the top 5%: $487,366
4nadia / Getty Images
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $155,529
Average income of the top 20%: $269,437
Average income of the top 5%: $470,649
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $157,599
Average income of the top 20%: $266,218
Average income of the top 5%: $463,843
RudyBalasko / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $162,124
Average income of the top 20%: $289,355
Average income of the top 5%: $521,013
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $163,286
Average income of the top 20%: $276,548
Average income of the top 5%: $477,607
strickke / Getty Images
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $163,548
Average income of the top 20%: $276,288
Average income of the top 5%: $483,169
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $164,585
Average income of the top 20%: $282,691
Average income of the top 5%: $497,204
Check Out: How Long $1 Million in Retirement Will Last in Every State
Chilkoot / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $169,423
Average income of the top 20%: $270,877
Average income of the top 5%: $445,464
photoquest7 / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $178,141
Average income of the top 20%: $307,101
Average income of the top 5%: $538,026
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $178,658
Average income of the top 20%: $297,363
Average income of the top 5%: $507,282
spyarm / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $178,953
Average income of the top 20%: $342,150
Average income of the top 5%: $646,648
SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $182,550
Average income of the top 20%: $316,724
Average income of the top 5%: $547,015
f11photo / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $184,482
Average income of the top 20%: $325,947
Average income of the top 5%: $574,868
bennymarty / Getty Images
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $186,867
Average income of the top 20%: $310,254
Average income of the top 5%: $526,148
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $189,778
Average income of the top 20%: $358,875
Average income of the top 5%: $676,016
For You: I’m a Financial Advisor — 10 Most Awesome Things You Can Do for Your Finances in 2025
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $195,516
Average income of the top 20%: $327,400
Average income of the top 5%: $554,828
Ron_Thomas / Getty Images
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $196,525
Average income of the top 20%: $356,382
Average income of the top 5%: $638,872
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $203,882
Average income of the top 20%: $359,314
Average income of the top 5%: $632,685
©Shutterstock.com
The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $205,889
Average income of the top 20%: $364,076
Average income of the top 5%: $642,510
Methodology: GOBankingRates used the United States Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey income quintile data to find each state’s (1) lowest income to be considered in the top 20% income bracket; (2) the average income of the richest 20% and (3) the average income of the richest 5%. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 3, 2025.
More From GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s How Much You Need To Earn To Be ‘Rich’ in Every State
