Per Capita Personal Income Growth by State: 2015–2025 Rankings and Fastest Climbers

Per capita personal income is one of the clearest yardsticks for comparing economic well-being across states. The latest Bureau of Economic Analysis data for 2025 show a national average of $76,393, with the District of Columbia far above any state at $116,121 and Mississippi at the bottom with $54,531. The 10-year picture is even more dynamic: Utah, Arizona, and Washington have posted the strongest growth, while the Northeast continues to hold the highest income levels.

Key Numbers

• U.S. average per capita personal income (2025): $76,393
• Highest area: District of Columbia, $116,121
• Highest state: Connecticut, $98,879
• Lowest state: Mississippi, $54,531
• Connecticut–Mississippi gap: about $44,000, a 45% shortfall
• Fastest 10-year growth: Utah +75.5%, Arizona +71.2%
• 2024–2025 nominal increase: +4.3%, from $73,227 to $76,393
• 2018–2022 nationwide growth: +21.64%, from $53,786 to $65,423

Explanation

Per capita personal income divides total personal income earned by all residents of an area by that area’s population. It includes wages, salaries, proprietors’ income, rental income, dividends, interest, and government transfers such as Social Security and Medicare. Because it standardizes for population size, it allows meaningful comparisons between large and small states.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis releases state personal income data annually, with the 2025 figures published in April 2026. The national average rose from $73,227 in 2024 to $76,393 in 2025, a nominal increase of 4.3%. However, this is not adjusted for inflation; real growth is lower once price increases are taken into account.

Geographically, the highest incomes remain concentrated in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, while the lowest are generally in the South. The District of Columbia is an outlier because of its concentration of federal employment and high-paying professional services. Over the past decade, fast-growing Western states such as Utah, Arizona, and Washington have climbed the rankings, reflecting strong job growth, in-migration, and expanding technology and business services sectors.

Definition

Per capita personal income is the total personal income of an area divided by its total resident population. Personal income includes all income received by individuals from all sources: wages and salaries, employer-provided benefits, proprietors’ income, rental income, interest and dividends, and government transfer payments. It is a broad measure of the resources available to residents before personal taxes are deducted.

How the Statistic Is Calculated

The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculates state personal income by summing the income components for each state and then dividing by the Census Bureau’s annual population estimate for that state. The result is expressed in current dollars, meaning it is not adjusted for inflation. BEA publishes both annual and quarterly estimates, with annual data providing the most commonly used benchmark for state comparisons.

Historical Data

Between 2018 and 2022, nationwide per capita personal income increased by 21.64%, rising from $53,786 to $65,423, according to a five-year analysis by SSTI. That period included the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought large federal transfer payments and unusual income swings. More recently, the national average rose from $73,227 in 2024 to $76,393 in 2025, a 4.3% nominal gain.

Longer-term data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that per capita personal income has grown in every state over the past decade, but the pace has varied widely. Western and Sun Belt states have generally grown faster than the Northeast and Midwest, although the Northeast still has the highest levels.

State Comparison

The 2025 data show a wide spread between the highest- and lowest-income states. Connecticut leads all states at $98,879, followed by Massachusetts at $97,456 and California at $91,116. The District of Columbia, though not a state, is even higher at $116,121. At the other end, Mississippi is the lowest state at $54,531, followed by West Virginia ($57,932), Alabama ($59,677), Kentucky ($60,673), and New Mexico ($61,645).

The gap between Connecticut and Mississippi is roughly $44,000, meaning Mississippi’s per capita income is about 45% below Connecticut’s. Seven of the ten highest-income states are in New England or the broader Northeast, while the bottom five are all in the South or Southwest.

National Comparison

The U.S. average per capita personal income was $76,393 in 2025. That places the District of Columbia about 52% above the national average, while Mississippi is about 29% below it. The national average has risen steadily in nominal terms, but inflation reduces the real purchasing power of those gains. BEA reports nominal dollars, so year-over-year changes should be interpreted with caution.

Ranking Table

The table below shows selected 2025 per capita personal income figures from the BEA release, including the highest and lowest areas and the U.S. average.

Note: The table includes only figures explicitly reported in the 2025 BEA release cited here; full state rankings are available from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

10-Year Change

Looking at the decade from 2015 to 2025, the fastest climbers have been in the West. Utah’s per capita personal income grew by 75.5% over the period, the largest increase among states, followed by Arizona at 71.2%. Washington also ranks among the top 10-year climbers, reflecting the expansion of technology, aerospace, and professional services in the Seattle area.

These growth rates are nominal and do not account for inflation. Even so, they represent a significant reordering of state income rankings, as fast-growing Western states have narrowed the gap with the traditional high-income Northeast.

Year-over-Year Change

From 2024 to 2025, the U.S. average per capita personal income increased by 4.3% in nominal terms, rising from $73,227 to $76,393. This is a slowdown from the pandemic-era surge, when federal transfers temporarily boosted incomes, but it remains a solid nominal gain. Real growth, after adjusting for inflation, is lower; the BEA does not publish a state-level real per capita personal income series in the same release.

Factors Behind the Trend

Several forces explain the state-level patterns. The District of Columbia’s high income reflects a concentration of federal government jobs, law firms, consulting, and other high-paying professional services. Connecticut and Massachusetts benefit from finance, insurance, higher education, and biotechnology. California’s large economy includes technology, entertainment, and trade, though its high average also reflects high housing costs and income inequality.

The fast growth in Utah, Arizona, and Washington is tied to strong population inflows, business-friendly environments, and expanding technology and service sectors. Lower costs of living and available land have attracted both companies and workers, pushing up total personal income faster than population. Meanwhile, states with slower growth often have older populations, weaker job creation, or reliance on lower-wage industries.

Why It Matters

Per capita personal income is a key indicator of economic well-being and standard of living. It influences state tax revenues, demand for housing and services, and the ability of residents to save and invest. Policymakers, businesses, and researchers use it to compare economic performance, identify regional disparities, and target economic development programs. Large and persistent gaps between states can also drive migration, as workers move toward higher-income areas.

Limitations of the Data

Per capita personal income has important limitations. It is an average, not a median, so a small number of very high earners can pull the figure upward and mask inequality within a state. It is reported in nominal dollars, so comparisons over time should be adjusted for inflation to understand real changes. State-level averages also hide large differences between urban and rural areas, and they do not account for differences in the cost of living, which can make a given income go much further in one state than another.

Per capita personal income is an average, not a median; it can be pulled upward by a small number of very high earners.

Methodology

The Bureau of Economic Analysis produces state personal income estimates as part of its Regional Economic Accounts. The estimates are based on administrative records, surveys, and economic data from sources such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and the Census Bureau. Population estimates used to calculate per capita figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Annual estimates are revised as more complete data become available, so figures for recent years may change in future releases.

Source & Data Date

Primary source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Income by State, 2025 annual estimates, released April 2026. Additional context from SSTI’s analysis of 2018–2022 per capita personal income and the St. Louis Fed’s ALFRED database. The 10-year growth figures for Utah and Arizona are reported in the Mappr summary of the BEA release.