Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Non-Retail Sales Worker's pay go, state by state?
A Non-Retail Sales Worker's pay leaves the most room in South Dakota — about $6,889/mo take-home against $910/mo typical rent — and the least in Nevada.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $6,889/mo | $910/mo | 13% |
| New York | $7,286/mo | $1,621/mo | 22% |
| Wisconsin | $6,638/mo | $1,033/mo | 16% |
| Massachusetts | $7,172/mo | $1,716/mo | 24% |
| Rhode Island | $6,403/mo | $1,289/mo | 20% |
| Delaware | $6,382/mo | $1,321/mo | 21% |
| North Carolina | $6,178/mo | $1,147/mo | 19% |
| New Hampshire | $6,404/mo | $1,424/mo | 22% |
| New Jersey | $6,462/mo | $1,656/mo | 26% |
| Virginia | $6,201/mo | $1,547/mo | 25% |
| Washington | $6,289/mo | $1,641/mo | 26% |
| North Dakota | $5,517/mo | $911/mo | 17% |
| Colorado | $6,254/mo | $1,659/mo | 27% |
| Iowa | $5,390/mo | $932/mo | 17% |
| Ohio | $5,352/mo | $986/mo | 18% |
| Michigan | $5,333/mo | $1,072/mo | 20% |
| Missouri | $5,251/mo | $997/mo | 19% |
| Kentucky | $5,067/mo | $918/mo | 18% |
| Indiana | $5,148/mo | $1,022/mo | 20% |
| Tennessee | $5,218/mo | $1,111/mo | 21% |
| Pennsylvania | $5,241/mo | $1,176/mo | 22% |
| Maine | $5,130/mo | $1,104/mo | 22% |
| Nebraska | $5,030/mo | $1,017/mo | 20% |
| Minnesota | $5,133/mo | $1,230/mo | 24% |
| Florida | $5,442/mo | $1,542/mo | 28% |
| Montana | $4,915/mo | $1,031/mo | 21% |
| Connecticut | $5,324/mo | $1,483/mo | 28% |
| Wyoming | $4,819/mo | $979/mo | 20% |
| Kansas | $4,815/mo | $1,025/mo | 21% |
| Louisiana | $4,683/mo | $1,028/mo | 22% |
| Vermont | $4,843/mo | $1,207/mo | 25% |
| Oklahoma | $4,592/mo | $970/mo | 21% |
| Georgia | $4,940/mo | $1,320/mo | 27% |
| Arizona | $5,028/mo | $1,419/mo | 28% |
| Alabama | $4,566/mo | $967/mo | 21% |
| Oregon | $5,023/mo | $1,431/mo | 28% |
| Illinois | $4,821/mo | $1,246/mo | 26% |
| Maryland | $5,249/mo | $1,683/mo | 32% |
| California | $5,524/mo | $1,969/mo | 36% |
| South Carolina | $4,683/mo | $1,131/mo | 24% |
| Arkansas | $4,433/mo | $903/mo | 20% |
| Texas | $4,846/mo | $1,328/mo | 27% |
| Alaska | $4,834/mo | $1,361/mo | 28% |
| Utah | $4,869/mo | $1,396/mo | 29% |
| District of Columbia | $5,355/mo | $1,900/mo | 35% |
| Mississippi | $4,244/mo | $933/mo | 22% |
| Hawaii | $5,058/mo | $1,927/mo | 38% |
| Idaho | $4,168/mo | $1,163/mo | 28% |
| New Mexico | $3,903/mo | $1,034/mo | 26% |
| West Virginia | $3,713/mo | $848/mo | 23% |
| Nevada | $4,337/mo | $1,478/mo | 34% |
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.