highest median – A new ranking based on 2024 American Community Survey data shows where adults with some college or an associate degree—and even high school graduates—earn the most, with Maryland topping the list for median earnings among non-bachelor’s degree holders.
A decision about college can feel like a math problem. How much will tuition cost, and what will it buy you?
For millions of Americans, the choice often isn’t between “education” and “no education.” It’s between four years and everything else—work right away, or training through programs that stop short of a bachelor’s degree.
One new state-by-state ranking puts numbers to that fork in the road. Using earnings data from the US Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. it compares median earnings for adults 25 and older with “some college or an associate degree. ” alongside median earnings for high school graduates in each state. The ranking is ordered from lowest to highest based on where those non-bachelor’s adults earn the most.
The broad picture is consistent across the country: higher levels of education were largely linked with higher median earnings. Across all states. adults with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of 38.6% more than adults with an associate degree or those who attended some college but did not complete a four-year degree. That average gap works out to about $18,539 a year.
But the ranking also comes with a key warning that can change how readers interpret the numbers: it does not adjust for differences in cost of living across states. States with large professional labor markets often appear among the highest-cost-of-living places. meaning pay may look stronger even if living expenses rise alongside it.
Still, for people deciding to forgo a four-year education, the results are stark.
Maryland takes the top spot for adults with some college or an associate degree. The state reports median earnings of $55,301 for that group. High school graduates in Maryland have median earnings of $45,273, while adults with a bachelor’s degree earn a median of $79,242.
Alaska comes in second, with median earnings of $54,950 for adults with some college. In Alaska, high school graduates earn a median of $45,904, and bachelor’s degree holders earn $69,031.
Washington ranks third. Adults with some college or an associate degree earn a median of $53,857; high school graduates earn $47,996; and bachelor’s degree holders earn $81,640.
New Hampshire is fourth, reporting median earnings of $52,513 for adults with some college or an associate degree. High school graduates earn $47,609, while bachelor’s degree holders earn $71,669.
The top five is completed by Massachusetts at number five. The state’s median earnings for adults with some college or an associate degree are $52,218. High school graduates earn $46,742, and bachelor’s degree holders earn $81,784.
Minnesota lands at number six with median earnings of $52,185 for adults with some college. High school graduates earn $42,121, and bachelor’s degree holders earn $72,538.
Connecticut is seventh, with median earnings of $51,686 for adults with some college or an associate degree. High school graduates earn $44,573, and bachelor’s degree holders earn $77,879.
North Dakota and New Jersey tie for eighth place. In North Dakota. adults with some college or an associate degree earn a median of $51. 644; high school graduates earn $47. 787; and bachelor’s degree holders earn $60. 560. In New Jersey. high school graduates earn a median of $44. 573. while both adults with some college or an associate degree and bachelor’s degree holders sit higher. with $51. 644 for the non-bachelor’s group and $81. 107 for bachelor’s degree holders.
Wisconsin is ninth with median earnings of $50,315 for adults with some college or an associate degree. High school graduates earn $42,333, and bachelor’s degree holders earn $65,697.
Colorado closes out the top 10 with median earnings of $51,247 for adults with some college or an associate degree. High school graduates earn $46,010, and bachelor’s degree holders earn $75,637.
The rest of the ranking keeps widening the spread between education levels. In California, for example, high school graduates earn $41,535, while adults with some college or an associate degree earn $51,031 and bachelor’s degree holders earn $80,874.
In Florida, high school graduates earn a median of $37,044, adults with some college or an associate degree earn $45,172, and bachelor’s degree holders earn $60,618.
And in Wyoming, there’s a different kind of tension: adults with a high school diploma earn a median income of $46,543—higher than Wyoming’s median earnings for adults with some college or an associate degree, which are $44,339. Bachelor’s degree holders still lead at $54,213.
At the low end of the list, Arkansas finishes last. It is described as the lowest-earning state for adults with an associate degree or some college. Arkansas reports median earnings of $41,732 for that group, $38,020 for high school graduates, and $57,152 for adults with a bachelor’s degree.
Mississippi ranks 49th. High school graduates in Mississippi have median income of $35,287, while adults with some college or an associate degree earn $41,781. Bachelor’s degree holders earn $55,481.
New Mexico is 48th with median earnings of $42,468 for adults with some college or an associate degree and $37,038 for high school graduates. Bachelor’s degree holders earn $56,159.
Louisiana follows at 47th with median earnings of $43,459 for adults with some college or an associate degree, and $35,973 for high school graduates. Bachelor’s degree holders earn $59,917.
West Virginia is 46th with median earnings of $43,674 for adults with an associate degree or some college and $37,207 for high school graduates. Bachelor’s degree holders earn $56,967.
The remaining states in the ranking fall in between these extremes, from Oklahoma at 45th (with $43,787 for adults with some college or an associate degree and $37,015 for high school graduates) to Maryland at the top.
Across the entire list. one fact stays consistent: the earnings premium tied to bachelor’s degrees remains visible in every state where the data is shown. Yet the ranking also makes clear that “non-bachelor’s” earnings aren’t uniform. They range from $41,732 in Arkansas to $55,301 in Maryland—without any adjustment for cost of living.
The question for working adults, then, isn’t only whether education pays. It’s which route offers the best shot at higher median earnings in a particular state—and how much living costs can eat into the difference.
US states earnings ranking some college associate degree median earnings high school graduates bachelor’s degree premium American Community Survey 2024 education and income