Updated By: Michael Eugene | September 2026
Do you know how much a high school diploma can impact your paycheck? To help you weigh your options, U.S. Career Institute built a guide to average pay by education level, including what a high school diploma is worth in every state. You'll also find lifetime earnings by education level, so you can see the bigger picture before you decide.
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What is the average salary by education level?
Nationally, workers age 25 and over with a high school diploma earned median pay of $977 a week in early 2026, about $50,800 a year for full-time work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Without a diploma, the median falls to $784 a week, roughly $40,800 a year. That's a gap of about $10,000 a year. The fact is that the typical minimum education requirement for most career paths involves a high school diploma. It’s valuable as a tool to help you earn more, but also to serve as an entry point for starting or continuing your career journey
What is the average salary of high school graduates by state?
Is a high school diploma worth it? Location plays a significant role in the answer. Based on 2024 U.S. Census Bureau earnings data, these are the 20 states where high school graduates earn the most:
- Washington - $47,996
- North Dakota - $47,787
- New Hampshire - $47,609
- Massachusetts - $46,742
- Wyoming - $46,543
- Colorado - $46,010
- Alaska - $45,904
- Maryland - $45,273
- Vermont - $44,859
- Connecticut - $44,573
- Utah - $44,405
- New Jersey - $42,624
- Hawaii - $42,373
- Wisconsin - $42,333
- Rhode Island - $42,251
- Oregon - $42,165
- Minnesota - $42,121
- Iowa - $41,765
- Maine - $41,689
- California - $41,535
The Difference in Median Annual Earnings Between High School Graduates* and Non-Graduates
*Includes high school equivalency diplomas
Regardless of your state, high school graduates out-earn non-graduates nearly everywhere. Nationally, workers with a diploma or an equivalency (GED) credential earned a median of $40,684 in 2024, compared with $32,468 for those without one. Review the income difference between states below to see how your earnings could change.
Note: The Census survey data used as a basis for these figures and state rankings counts everyone with earnings, including part-time workers. As a result, its medians run lower than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics pay figures referenced in the first section, which covers full-time workers only.
| State |
Median Earnings, Non-Graduate |
Median Earnings, High School Graduate (Incl. Equivalency) |
Difference |
| North Dakota |
$37,429 |
$47,787 |
$10,358 |
| Alaska |
$35,759 |
$45,904 |
$10,145 |
| Maryland |
$35,597 |
$45,273 |
$9,676 |
| New Hampshire |
$38,156 |
$47,609 |
$9,453 |
| Wyoming |
$37,197 |
$46,543 |
$9,346 |
| West Virginia |
$27,940 |
$37,207 |
$9,267 |
| Washington |
$38,733 |
$47,996 |
$9,263 |
| California |
$32,360 |
$41,535 |
$9,175 |
| New York |
$31,669 |
$40,608 |
$8,939 |
| Massachusetts |
$37,840 |
$46,742 |
$8,902 |
| New Jersey |
$33,797 |
$42,624 |
$8,827 |
| Tennessee |
$31,044 |
$39,835 |
$8,791 |
| Connecticut |
$35,990 |
$44,573 |
$8,583 |
| Ohio |
$32,744 |
$40,810 |
$8,066 |
| Alabama |
$31,127 |
$39,147 |
$8,020 |
| Hawaii |
$34,381 |
$42,373 |
$7,992 |
| Missouri |
$31,673 |
$39,568 |
$7,895 |
| Louisiana |
$28,254 |
$35,973 |
$7,719 |
| Colorado |
$38,338 |
$46,010 |
$7,672 |
| South Carolina |
$30,404 |
$38,043 |
$7,639 |
| Texas |
$30,826 |
$38,098 |
$7,272 |
| North Carolina |
$31,432 |
$38,689 |
$7,257 |
| Utah |
$37,269 |
$44,405 |
$7,136 |
| Kentucky |
$31,029 |
$38,137 |
$7,108 |
| Rhode Island |
$35,409 |
$42,251 |
$6,842 |
| Michigan |
$31,647 |
$38,399 |
$6,752 |
| New Mexico |
$30,369 |
$37,038 |
$6,669 |
| Iowa |
$35,097 |
$41,765 |
$6,668 |
| Pennsylvania |
$34,229 |
$40,765 |
$6,536 |
| Virginia |
$34,531 |
$41,012 |
$6,481 |
| Oregon |
$35,776 |
$42,165 |
$6,389 |
| Arkansas |
$31,970 |
$38,020 |
$6,050 |
| Vermont |
$38,968 |
$44,859 |
$5,891 |
| Minnesota |
$36,273 |
$42,121 |
$5,848 |
| Indiana |
$35,188 |
$40,985 |
$5,797 |
| Florida |
$31,252 |
$37,044 |
$5,792 |
| South Dakota |
$35,330 |
$40,822 |
$5,492 |
| Illinois |
$35,727 |
$41,132 |
$5,405 |
| Kansas |
$35,293 |
$40,694 |
$5,401 |
| Idaho |
$35,830 |
$41,114 |
$5,284 |
| Nevada |
$35,726 |
$40,969 |
$5,243 |
| Maine |
$36,479 |
$41,689 |
$5,210 |
| Mississippi |
$30,149 |
$35,287 |
$5,138 |
| Arizona |
$36,522 |
$41,518 |
$4,996 |
| Delaware |
$34,689 |
$39,495 |
$4,806 |
| Georgia |
$33,554 |
$38,311 |
$4,757 |
| Oklahoma |
$32,880 |
$37,015 |
$4,135 |
| Nebraska |
$37,318 |
$41,356 |
$4,038 |
| Wisconsin |
$38,987 |
$42,333 |
$3,346 |
| District of Columbia |
$37,581 |
$39,736 |
$2,155 |
| Montana* |
$38,463 |
$38,322 |
-$141 |
*Montana is the one state where the 2024 survey shows non-graduates' median earnings slightly above graduates. State-level medians for states with smaller populations can fluctuate from year to year, so treat that as a statistical anomaly rather than a real pay advantage.
The earnings gap compounds over a career. The estimates below take each group's 2024 median weekly pay for full-time workers and stretches it across a 52-week year and a 40-year career.
Figures based on 2024 median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and over, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates assume 52 paid weeks per year and a 40-year career; they don't account for raises, inflation, or time out of the workforce.
The data is clear: earning your high school diploma will increase your earning potential. If you have not earned your diploma yet, there's still time. U.S. Career Institute's High School is a great option for students who are seeking an alternative option to the traditional brick and mortar high school. And, with the option to choose from general education or one of five career pathways (e.g., healthcare, business, fitness, veterinary sciences, paralegal), students have a great opportunity to set themselves up for their next step in their career journey.
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