Median wages are substantially higher in states with better-educated workers: Relationship between state median hourly wage and share of state's workforce with a bachelor's degree or more education, 2012

State Share of labor force with bachelor’s degree or more education Median Hourly Wage (2012 dollars)
WY 0.214 $17.07
AR 0.246 $14.23
NV 0.247 $15.00
MS 0.254 $14.58
LA 0.255 $14.78
WV 0.256 $15.48
IN 0.262 $15.24
KY 0.262 $14.63
OH 0.264 $15.54
SD 0.271 $14.78
ID 0.272 $15.06
OK 0.281 $15.22
UT 0.281 $15.55
AK 0.283 $18.87
SC 0.285 $14.60
AL 0.286 $15.18
TX 0.286 $15.12
TN 0.289 $14.58
IA 0.291 $15.62
AZ 0.295 $15.48
NC 0.298 $15.12
MT 0.301 $14.16
WI 0.306 $16.01
MI 0.307 $15.89
NE 0.308 $15.10
MO 0.309 $15.89
FL 0.313 $15.82
ME 0.313 $15.57
PA 0.313 $16.77
NM 0.315 $15.25
HI 0.316 $16.89
ND 0.318 $16.26
GA 0.325 $15.64
US 0.327 $16.28
DE 0.329 $17.41
OR 0.337 $17.00
RI 0.337 $16.94
CA 0.341 $17.14
WA 0.356 $18.04
MN 0.362 $18.13
KS 0.365 $15.77
VT 0.367 $16.47
IL 0.371 $17.01
NH 0.381 $18.37
NY 0.382 $17.47
VA 0.391 $18.07
CO 0.392 $18.02
NJ 0.396 $19.74
MD 0.406 $19.12
CT 0.419 $20.05
MA 0.459 $19.27

Source: Authors' analysis of Current Population Survey (CPS) basic monthly and CPS Outgoing Rotation Group microdata

View the underlying data on epi.org.