Pay vs cost of living
How far does a IT Support Specialist's pay go, state by state?
A IT Support Specialist's pay leaves the most room in District of Columbia — about $4,984/mo take-home against $1,900/mo typical rent — and the least in Florida.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $4,984/mo | $1,900/mo | 38% |
| Massachusetts | $4,798/mo | $1,716/mo | 36% |
| North Dakota | $3,915/mo | $911/mo | 23% |
| California | $4,882/mo | $1,969/mo | 40% |
| Vermont | $4,095/mo | $1,207/mo | 29% |
| Minnesota | $4,074/mo | $1,230/mo | 30% |
| Delaware | $4,128/mo | $1,321/mo | 32% |
| Rhode Island | $4,038/mo | $1,289/mo | 32% |
| Colorado | $4,362/mo | $1,659/mo | 38% |
| Washington | $4,340/mo | $1,641/mo | 38% |
| Wisconsin | $3,728/mo | $1,033/mo | 28% |
| Wyoming | $3,661/mo | $979/mo | 27% |
| Connecticut | $4,147/mo | $1,483/mo | 36% |
| Nebraska | $3,665/mo | $1,017/mo | 28% |
| Michigan | $3,690/mo | $1,072/mo | 29% |
| New Hampshire | $4,040/mo | $1,424/mo | 35% |
| Oregon | $4,025/mo | $1,431/mo | 36% |
| New Jersey | $4,237/mo | $1,656/mo | 39% |
| Virginia | $4,124/mo | $1,547/mo | 38% |
| North Carolina | $3,705/mo | $1,147/mo | 31% |
| Illinois | $3,778/mo | $1,246/mo | 33% |
| Maine | $3,611/mo | $1,104/mo | 31% |
| Arizona | $3,898/mo | $1,419/mo | 36% |
| New York | $4,100/mo | $1,621/mo | 40% |
| Utah | $3,867/mo | $1,396/mo | 36% |
| Iowa | $3,398/mo | $932/mo | 27% |
| West Virginia | $3,282/mo | $848/mo | 26% |
| Pennsylvania | $3,604/mo | $1,176/mo | 33% |
| Alaska | $3,775/mo | $1,361/mo | 36% |
| Georgia | $3,732/mo | $1,320/mo | 35% |
| Louisiana | $3,439/mo | $1,028/mo | 30% |
| Kentucky | $3,328/mo | $918/mo | 28% |
| Missouri | $3,362/mo | $997/mo | 30% |
| Ohio | $3,347/mo | $986/mo | 29% |
| Maryland | $3,994/mo | $1,683/mo | 42% |
| Indiana | $3,330/mo | $1,022/mo | 31% |
| Oklahoma | $3,270/mo | $970/mo | 30% |
| Montana | $3,308/mo | $1,031/mo | 31% |
| New Mexico | $3,282/mo | $1,034/mo | 32% |
| Kansas | $3,247/mo | $1,025/mo | 32% |
| Tennessee | $3,323/mo | $1,111/mo | 33% |
| Alabama | $3,133/mo | $967/mo | 31% |
| South Carolina | $3,273/mo | $1,131/mo | 35% |
| Idaho | $3,264/mo | $1,163/mo | 36% |
| South Dakota | $3,008/mo | $910/mo | 30% |
| Texas | $3,368/mo | $1,328/mo | 39% |
| Arkansas | $2,910/mo | $903/mo | 31% |
| Mississippi | $2,927/mo | $933/mo | 32% |
| Hawaii | $3,867/mo | $1,927/mo | 50% |
| Nevada | $3,322/mo | $1,478/mo | 44% |
| Florida | $3,380/mo | $1,542/mo | 46% |
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.