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Between the lackluster job market and the still-high unemployment rate, it’s hard to make a good living these days. And depending on where you live, it may be harder for you than others, according to a new study.
Personal finance site MoneyRates.com analyzed the average income, tax rates, cost of living, unemployment rate and workplace environment data for all 50 states to determine which states offered the best prospects for making a living. “Times are tough, but people in some states may be having a harder time than they need to,” MoneyRates.com senior financial analyst Richard Barrington said in a statement. “This study could give workers ideas of where they might find a better place to earn a living.”
10 worst states for making a living in 2013
- Hawaii
- Mississippi
- Rhode Island
- New York
- South Carolina
- New Jersey
- West Virginia
- Vermont
- Alaska
- South Dakota
Hawaii earns its position as the “worst state for making a living” due largely to the fact that it has the highest cost of living in the U.S. and relatively high state taxes.
10 best states for making a living in 2013
- Washington
- Virginia
- Colorado
- Texas
- Wyoming
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Utah
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
Washington tops the list because it has a very high average income, no state income tax and a cost of living that’s just a little above the national average.
No matter where you live, you can improve your chances of landing a good job. Here are a few resources that can help:
- Hunt for jobs using websites like these.
- Learn to network effectively.
- Consider getting into one of these growing career fields.
You should also consider looking for career information on sites like Careers.org and About.com/Careers, salary information on Glassdoor.com or Salary.com, as well as joining social networking site LinkedIn.
