Texas
How much money do you need to make to be in the top 5% in Texas?
(NEXSTAR) – The disparity between the income that an average U.S. resident brings in yearly compared to those sitting at the top of earners in each state has always been a major topic of discussion.
In fact, WalletHub states that “the highest-earning 10% of individuals in the United States earn over 12 times more than those in the lowest-earning 10%, based on the latest Census data.”
And while looking up what the “average salary” is across the country, ($74,600, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve), appears to give a solid idea of how far off most Americans are from the 5% club, a closer look at the high-end salaries reveals that the disparity is even more stark.
WalletHub broke down the income of all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C into three different groups: the average annual income of the top 5%, the average for the bottom 20%, and the median for all of each state’s residents.
Landing at No. 1 was New York where the top 5% makes about $553,000 a year. That’s almost $35,000 more than the next two highest states and nearly $100,000 more than the 10th-ranked state.
While the top 5% is thriving in the Empire State, its bottom 20% is falling well short, ranking 44th in salary with $13,301.
Right behind New York is Connecticut and Virginia where the average is about $518,000 apiece. Followed by New Jersey and Illinois which are both hovering around $505,000.
The state with the lowest top 5% threshold is Alaska, where earning roughly $321,000 will get you into the club. Hawaii and Vermont aren’t far behind where the top 5% makes about $334,000.
Check out what you need to make in your state:
| Rank | State | Average Annual Income of Top 5% | Median Annual Income | Average Annual Income of Bottom 20% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $553,436 | $91,366 | $13,301 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $518,757 | $114,156 | $14,576 |
| 3 | Virginia | $518,296 | $89,393 | $18,694 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $505,621 | $117,847 | $16,445 |
| 5 | Illinois | $504,800 | $78,304 | $16,192 |
| 6 | Georgia | $487,870 | $66,612 | $16,472 |
| 7 | Texas | $481,483 | $70,513 | $16,802 |
| 8 | Washington | $474,067 | $103,748 | $18,223 |
| 9 | Florida | $470,308 | $68,818 | $15,375 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $466,208 | $127,760 | $13,689 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $464,981 | $86,364 | $19,797 |
| 12 | Colorado | $456,603 | $97,301 | $18,451 |
| 13 | California | $454,829 | $123,988 | $13,949 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $453,539 | $59,077 | $15,679 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $450,892 | $162,265 | $9,011 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $450,592 | $63,025 | $15,836 |
| 17 | Utah | $448,195 | $89,786 | $22,491 |
| 18 | Michigan | $446,114 | $62,446 | $17,019 |
| 19 | Missouri | $446,069 | $59,715 | $16,821 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $445,261 | $74,711 | $15,801 |
| 21 | Ohio | $436,922 | $61,904 | $16,188 |
| 22 | Maryland | $427,135 | $124,693 | $16,647 |
| 23 | Arizona | $424,913 | $74,375 | $16,604 |
| 24 | Kansas | $423,517 | $68,489 | $17,176 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $416,325 | $72,384 | $17,380 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $416,224 | $51,032 | $14,069 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $412,771 | $62,909 | $13,996 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $411,897 | $55,629 | $13,800 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $405,113 | $57,215 | $15,205 |
| 30 | Idaho | $403,737 | $70,041 | $18,372 |
| 31 | Delaware | $402,989 | $87,173 | $16,930 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $402,256 | $72,602 | $17,973 |
| 33 | Nevada | $401,062 | $80,366 | $14,472 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $400,343 | $110,205 | $18,075 |
| 35 | Indiana | $399,270 | $64,170 | $16,670 |
| 36 | Alabama | $398,584 | $55,480 | $13,242 |
| 37 | Montana | $395,720 | $68,937 | $15,337 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $395,155 | $56,282 | $11,504 |
| 39 | Iowa | $395,093 | $68,974 | $17,621 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $393,809 | $69,266 | $17,252 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $387,548 | $79,874 | $15,661 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $387,280 | $76,307 | $16,199 |
| 43 | Oregon | $377,399 | $91,100 | $14,720 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $377,040 | $46,880 | $12,168 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | $353,721 | $104,252 | $12,668 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $351,972 | $58,911 | $11,944 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $345,239 | $52,719 | $12,477 |
| 48 | Maine | $338,866 | $79,800 | $13,749 |
| 49 | Vermont | $334,470 | $89,695 | $14,477 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $334,369 | $141,832 | $14,014 |
| 51 | Alaska | $321,634 | $113,934 | $15,646 |
As for what state’s residents make the most money on average, Washington D.C. finished with the highest median income of $162,265. Unfortunately, D.C. also finished with the lowest salary for the average annual income of the bottom 20%, with $9,011.
Other states that had a high median income were Hawaii ($141,832), Massachusetts ($127,760), Maryland ($124,693), and California ($123,988).
These states with a smaller gap between the average earner and the top 5% make it easier to make the jump, but it’s still difficult.
According to GoBankingRates, it will take a variety of factors to make that jump. First, you need a steady increase in income. This could mean you are making better financial decisions, investing wisely, or perhaps experiencing career advancements.
Another factor is maybe having a solid investment strategy, look to see that you are getting positive returns on your investment and that you have a well-diversified portfolio.
Finally, prioritize your long-term financial stability. Look to prioritize saving over short-term pleasures.
And if you’re looking to go even higher than the top 5%, Forbes found that to be one of the top 1% of earners in the U.S., you need to bring in an annual salary of at least $597,815, so start saving up!
Texas
Some Venezuelans in North Texas celebrate Maduro’s capture, hopeful for the future: “We know this is just a first step.”
The celebration continues among the Venezuelan community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area following Nicolás Maduro’s capture. Sunday afternoon, several dozen people gathered at Vitruvian Park in Addison.
“It’s something amazing. You feel relieved because we’ve been in this situation for 27 years,” said Jani Mendez. “We’re glad this country. They opened their arms to us, but we’re here because it was a necessity; because we- they- were afraid to be in Venezuela.”
Among the crowd was a Venezuelan politician, Angel Caridad.
“I’ve been in the United States for five years now,” said Caridad. “We had to flee because our lives were in danger. My house was shot up.”
According to data from the U.S. Census, Texas has the second-largest population of Venezuelans in the U.S., behind Florida. An estimated 122,000 Venezuelans live in the state, with approximately 20,000 in the DFW area.
“At this moment at this point, all my family is here. I brought all my family because I was scared something happened to them,” said Mendez.
Many celebrating also say this is something they are doing for those in Venezuela who cannot.
“Imagine not being able to express how you feel, or not being able to say what you think, simply because you’ll be accused of being a terrorist,” said Maria Huerta.
Those attending were also asked their thoughts on the U.S. running Venezuela during the transition.
“It’s very good, it’s very important, and it’s very necessary,” said Caridad.
“We know this is just a first step, and many things still need to happen and will happen over the next few days, but knowing that the person at the top has been taken down is a relief,” said Huerta.
Former Texas Longhorns wide receiver Parker Livingstone remains in the transfer portal, and it seems as though fans don’t know how to feel about it.
Different rumors and hypotheticals have surfaced to explain his departure, leaving people unsure of what to believe.
However, Bobby Burton of On Texas Football has set the record straight regarding the Livingstone situation.
Livingstone reportedly not forced out of Texas
In Livingstone’s goodbye message to Longhorn fans, he said that his decision to transfer was “out of my control.” While this statement could have some truth to it, and fans looking inward will probably never get a full explanation, it doesn’t appear as though the redshirt freshman was forced out the door with no alternative.
According to Burton, he was actually offered a mid-six figure NIL/ revenue sharing deal with the Longhorns. He turned the deal down, choosing to become one of over 15 Longhorns to enter his name into the transfer portal instead.
Burton revealed these details about Livingstone’s offer in response to an article published by The Athletic, which used Livingstone as an example of players who had to enter into the portal involuntarily.
The business behind college football in the modern era is complicated. That much is undeniable.
That being said, describing his departure as involuntary when a significant amount of money existed for him at Texas seems somewhat contradictory.
Livingstone could’ve been told that his playing time would be at risk, or he could’ve come to a realization that he could probably get a better deal with a different program. There also could’ve been factors playing into his decision that no one has even thought of.
It’s hard to determine exactly what goes on behind closed doors, especially as college players become more involved in the business side of the game.
Livingstone likely couldn’t have anticipated the way in which his particular case would be used as one to critique the transfer portal at large, but that seems to be a byproduct of being a well-known and well-respected player within a program.
Right now, his main priority is probably finding a future home that suits him and what he hopes to achieve throughout the rest of his college career. The Indiana Hoosiers and Oklahoma Sooners have both emerged as schools he will take a closer look at, and more will be revealed soon about where Livingstone will set up shop for this next chapter of his football career.
Portal season is going to keep coaching staffs and program front offices up at night.
Apparently, it’s going to keep fans up at night as well. Kentucky fans are going to face that reality these next few days, maybe even a week or more, regarding quarterback Sam Leavitt, who visited Kentucky this weekend.
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Unfortunately, Leavitt left Lexington without signing with the Wildcats. He’s now set to visit Texas Tech on Sunday, per On3’s Pete Nakos
Leavitt is one of the top players to enter the transfer portal after the window opened on Friday. He currently ranks as the No. 2 overall player and top quarterback to hit the open market, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings.
Leavitt is expected to be one of the most sought-after transfer quarterbacks this cycle after spending the last two seasons at Arizona State. He helped lead the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff in 2024 before injuries impacted his production in 2025.
Wildcats fans are excited about the tantalizing prospect Leavitt is, but now the waiting game begins.
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