Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Baker's pay go, state by state?
A Baker's pay leaves the most room in North Dakota — about $2,325/mo take-home against $911/mo typical rent — and the least in California.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $2,325/mo | $911/mo | 39% |
| South Dakota | $2,262/mo | $910/mo | 40% |
| Indiana | $2,322/mo | $1,022/mo | 44% |
| Montana | $2,284/mo | $1,031/mo | 45% |
| Kentucky | $2,168/mo | $918/mo | 42% |
| West Virginia | $2,096/mo | $848/mo | 40% |
| Wisconsin | $2,255/mo | $1,033/mo | 46% |
| Minnesota | $2,439/mo | $1,230/mo | 50% |
| Iowa | $2,132/mo | $932/mo | 44% |
| Maine | $2,284/mo | $1,104/mo | 48% |
| Vermont | $2,384/mo | $1,207/mo | 51% |
| Mississippi | $2,021/mo | $933/mo | 46% |
| Michigan | $2,124/mo | $1,072/mo | 50% |
| Ohio | $2,007/mo | $986/mo | 49% |
| Missouri | $2,017/mo | $997/mo | 49% |
| Illinois | $2,261/mo | $1,246/mo | 55% |
| South Carolina | $2,132/mo | $1,131/mo | 53% |
| Pennsylvania | $2,168/mo | $1,176/mo | 54% |
| Kansas | $2,002/mo | $1,025/mo | 51% |
| Washington | $2,617/mo | $1,641/mo | 63% |
| Nebraska | $1,975/mo | $1,017/mo | 51% |
| Alabama | $1,908/mo | $967/mo | 51% |
| New Mexico | $1,971/mo | $1,034/mo | 52% |
| Connecticut | $2,417/mo | $1,483/mo | 61% |
| Oklahoma | $1,897/mo | $970/mo | 51% |
| Tennessee | $2,028/mo | $1,111/mo | 55% |
| Arizona | $2,331/mo | $1,419/mo | 61% |
| Idaho | $2,075/mo | $1,163/mo | 56% |
| Oregon | $2,343/mo | $1,431/mo | 61% |
| Nevada | $2,386/mo | $1,478/mo | 62% |
| New Hampshire | $2,322/mo | $1,424/mo | 61% |
| Louisiana | $1,899/mo | $1,028/mo | 54% |
| Colorado | $2,521/mo | $1,659/mo | 66% |
| Wyoming | $1,810/mo | $979/mo | 54% |
| Arkansas | $1,696/mo | $903/mo | 53% |
| New York | $2,413/mo | $1,621/mo | 67% |
| Delaware | $2,107/mo | $1,321/mo | 63% |
| Massachusetts | $2,476/mo | $1,716/mo | 69% |
| Rhode Island | $2,031/mo | $1,289/mo | 63% |
| Maryland | $2,406/mo | $1,683/mo | 70% |
| Georgia | $2,028/mo | $1,320/mo | 65% |
| New Jersey | $2,348/mo | $1,656/mo | 71% |
| North Carolina | $1,834/mo | $1,147/mo | 63% |
| Utah | $2,023/mo | $1,396/mo | 69% |
| Alaska | $1,977/mo | $1,361/mo | 69% |
| Texas | $1,923/mo | $1,328/mo | 69% |
| Virginia | $2,127/mo | $1,547/mo | 73% |
| Florida | $2,064/mo | $1,542/mo | 75% |
| District of Columbia | $2,402/mo | $1,900/mo | 79% |
| Hawaii | $2,411/mo | $1,927/mo | 80% |
| California | $2,451/mo | $1,969/mo | 80% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.