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