West Virginia
How much money do you need to make to be in the top 5% in West Virginia?
(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.
West Virginians will need to make $345,239 to be in the top 5%. Ohioans will need $436,922 and Kentuckians will need $411,897.
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!
West Virginia
West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WCHS) — A West Virginia man accused of threatening to attack President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workers was federally indicted this week.
Cody Lee Smith, 20, of Clarksburg was indicted on two counts of threats to murder the president, one count of influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder and one count of influencing a federal official by threat of murder, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Smith is accused of making a series of public posts on Instagram encouraging and threatening the murder of Trump, those who support him, Israelis and “all government officials,” the news release said.
The indictment also alleges that Smith sent a direct message via Instagram to Donald J. Trump, Jr., stating he would kill his father by cutting his “jugular.”
In a phone call with the ICE tip line, Smith also threatened to kill ICE agents in Clarksburg and employees staffing the tip line.
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Smith faces up to 5 years for each of the presidential threat charges and faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.
West Virginia
West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews
West Virginia has said the right things about the need to capitalize on opportunities.
The Mountaineers aren’t following through when they come about.
The latest example came Tuesday night at Kansas State, which scored 21 unanswered points in the second half before holding off a furious West Virginia charge for a 65-53 victory at Bramlage Coliseum.
“The level of urgency and desire to win a game with so much on it wasn’t where it needed to be,” West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge said on postgame radio.
The Wildcats (12-18, 3-14) played without leading scorer PJ Haggerty, a surprise scratch with an undisclosed injury.
Although WVU (17-13, 8-9) defeated Kansas State 59-54 with Haggerty in the lineup during a January matchup in Morgantown, the Mountaineers were unable to capitalize on his absence in the rematch and fell to 1-4 in their last five games.
Both teams were dismal offensively in the opening half, which ended with West Virginia leading, 26-23.
The Mountaineers got 10 points apiece from reserve forwards Chance Moore and DJ Thomas, helping the visitors to at least somewhat overcome a starting lineup that scored six points on 3-for-15 shooting over the first 20 minutes.
“When you’re playing a team that is a little down and out, you can’t give them life and can’t give them hope,” Hodge said. “We had so many opportunities in the first half and at the beginning of the game to make some plays and entice a team that’s been struggling to maybe keep struggling.”
After a scoreless first half, WVU guard Honor Huff made his 100th three-pointer this season with 18:33 to play, allowing the Mountaineers to lead 31-27.
West Virginia went the next 8-plus minutes without a point, and Wildcats took control during that stretch.
Khamari McGriff scored the Wildcats’ first four points of the extended 21-0 spurt and accounted for four buckets and eight of the first 15 points during that time.
A jumper from CJ Jones with 10:53 remaining left the home team with a 48-31 advantage, before Thomas scored from close range to end his team’s extended drought at the 10:27 mark.
“I’m aware of our shortcomings and I understand when you’re deficient in some areas, your margin for error to win is razor thin,” Hodge said. “I’m disappointed with what was at stake, we got beat to loose balls. Would it have been nice to make more layups and threes? Of course. But when those things aren’t happening, you better do those other things.”
KSU had separate 19-point leads, the latter of which came at 57-38 when McGriff made two free throws with 7:29 to play.
WVU then increased its aggressiveness offensively and reeled off the next 11 points, while the Wildcats began to play tentative while in possession.
A three-pointer from K-State’s Nate Johnson left the Wildcats with a 60-49 lead with 3:48 left, but the Mountaineers continued to battle and trailed by six when Chance Moore scored in the paint at the 1:24 mark.
Moore’s next basket made it a five-point game, and after a Johnson turnover, Huff made two free throws to bring WVU to within 61-58 with 48 seconds left.
Another KSU turnover gave the visitors the ball back, but after Moore missed a shot that the Mountaineers rebounded, Huff committed a costly turnover.
Johnson made two free throws with 17 seconds left, and McGriff added two more with 7 seconds remaining before Huff made a trey at the buzzer.
Moore led WVU with 18 points and made 6-of-7 shots, but again struggled on free throws, finishing 5 for 9. WVU hurts its cause at the charity stripe and made only 9-of-16 attempts.
Brenen Lorient was the Mountaineers’ second-leading scorer with 14 second-half points, while Thomas followed with 12 and Huff added 11 on 3-for-11 shooting.
Treysen Eaglestaff led all players with 11 rebounds in defeat, but made only 3-of-12 shots in a six-point showing.
McGriff led KSU with 18 points and added seven rebounds.
Johnson finished with 16 points and nine boards.
WVU had nine of its 13 turnovers in the second half.
“Nine turnovers in the second half creates more busted floors, more cross match opportunities and through that, it makes you vulnerable for paint touch opportunities,” Hodge said.
K-State played under the guidance of interim head coach Matthew Driscoll. Driscoll replaced Jerome Tang, who was fired in between the team’s first and second matchups with West Virginia this season.
“Sometimes in life you get what you deserve,” Hodge said, “and we deserved to lose tonight.”
West Virginia
Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews
Photo: Dave Casebolt, left, signed an agreement Tuesday with West Virginia American Water Company President Scott Wyman (City of Nitro)
NITRO, W.Va. — It’s a done deal.
Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt signed an agreement Tuesday with West Virginia American Water Company President Scott Wyman completing the sale of the Nitro Regional Wastewater Utility including the sewer plant for $20 million.
The water utility will now own and operate the city’s water and wastewater systems. The state Public Service Commission recently approved the deal.
Casebolt said it’s good to get the long-talked-about agreement signed. He said the city can’t afford to make the improvements required at the sewer plant.
“We’re looking at needing between 40 and 50 million dollars of upgrades to our system and expecting our four-thousand customer base to try to offset those costs is not even practical,” Casebolt said.
Casebolt said sewer bills are going to go up but he said they were going to go up regardless. He said the city was facing increasing rates by as much as 50 percent.
West Virgina American is planning $42 million in upgrades to the sewer system over the next five years, Casebolt said.
“It’s a much-need investment and actually allow the system to handle rainwater much better where it’s not backing up into people’s homes,” Casebolt said.
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