15 States Where Your Salary Goes Much Further

A bigger salary doesn’t always mean a better financial life. Where you live can have an enormous impact on what your paycheck actually buys once housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and taxes enter the equation.

According to MERIC’s first-quarter 2026 Cost of Living Index, many of America’s least expensive states are concentrated in the South and Midwest. A score below 100 indicates costs below the national benchmark, and housing is often where the biggest savings appear. READ MORE

See How Earnings Progress and When Pay Peaks as You Advance in Your Career

Once you’ve settled into a job, it’s easy to fall into the rhythm of meetings, deadlines, and regular paychecks.

You may not think much about how your income compares to others. But seeing how your salary stacks up by age—and how earnings rise and fall over time, including which group earns the most—can give you a better sense of your financial trajectory. READ MORE

Shareholder opposition to executive pay eases globally

Shareholder rebellions over executive pay eased across many of the world’s biggest stock markets this year, with opposition falling in Europe, the United States and Japan despite a handful of high-profile revolts.

The move comes as pay and perks continue to dwarf the average worker’s wage, with average CEO pay at S&P 500 companies hitting a record high even excluding a bumper pay plan for Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of SpaceX. READ MORE

U.S. CEO pay rides markets higher: ISS

Amid strong equity markets, CEO pay soared to record heights, driven by large one-time awards, according to new research from advisory firm, ISS-Corporate. Shareholders had few objections to the largesse.

Median CEO pay for the companies in the S&P 500 index reached $17.5 million (all figures in U.S. dollars) for fiscal 2025, reflecting a 20% cumulative increase in median pay since 2021, the report on executive compensation trends from the latest proxy season indicated. READ MORE

Thinking about relocating? This is the salary you'll need to earn to live comfortably in the US

Planning a relocation to the United States? A new study examined how much you would need to earn each year to live comfortably in every state. Nearly half of U.S. states now require an annual salary of more than $100,000 (about 300,000 shekels) for a single adult to live “comfortably,” according to an analysis by fintech company SmartAsset. READ MORE

Here’s the Salary It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State in 2026

As housing, grocery, transportation and other essential costs pressure household budgets, earning a six-figure salary no longer guarantees financial comfort in much of the U.S. A single adult now needs at least $80,000 a year to live comfortably in every state, while the threshold exceeds $100,000 in nearly half of states. For a family of four, the income needed to live comfortably is as much as $329,000. READ MORE

What’s Going On With Salary Increases And Inflation In 2026?

Salary budgets in 2026 are stabilizing as boards and senior leaders move beyond the short-term adjustments of recent years. Inflation remains volatile in many countries, reflecting varied conditions in markets around the world. Recently released data suggest leaders are returning to measured, disciplined salary increases, with fewer signs of reactive or inflation-driven spikes. READ MORE

Which Degrees Have the Highest and Lowest Early-Career Salaries?

Few college majors pay better after graduation than computer engineering.

The major also shows why more high school graduates are questioning whether a bachelor's degree is worth it: computer engineers earn the highest early-career median wage of any major, $90,000, but they also face an unemployment rate of 7.8%, one of the highest the Federal Reserve Bank of New York tracks. READ MORE

Salaries are growing faster than hourly wages. Here's why that matters.

Salaried workers’ pay growth has outpaced gains among hourly earners in the past year, with advertised wages declining outright among hourly workers in IT, software development, and other STEM fields, according to a new analysis from the Indeed Hiring Lab.

The analysis drew on pay information across millions of job postings from the beginning of 2025 through early 2026, finding that posted wages for salaried roles grew 2.9% while advertised pay for their hourly counterparts rose only 1.7%. READ MORE

Connecticut Expands Pay Transparency Requirements

Connecticut’s enactment of H.B. 5003 reflects a continuing nationwide trend toward greater pay transparency and enhanced employee protections concerning compensation. While building on the state’s existing statutory framework, the amendments materially expand both the scope and timing of employer disclosure obligations, particularly in the recruiting and hiring context.

These changes are likely to have significant operational implications for employers, particularly those with multistate workforces, as Connecticut’s requirements now more closely align with (and in some respects expand upon) similar laws in jurisdictions such as New York and New Jersey. READ MORE

The salary you need to live comfortably in 100 US cities

To truly understand the context of a household’s income, it must be compared to local costs and long-term goals, which both may fluctuate over time. For most people, the same pillars will make up the biggest nonnegotiables in their budget. These include basic necessities like housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation, and likely some discretionary spending on hobbies, activities, and other enrichment. In an attempt to secure this lifestyle for the future, many households aim to save some of their income for emergencies, investments, retirement, education, and other long-term goals. A common budgeting technique that encapsulates these three pillars is called the 50/30/20 rule: 50% of your post-tax income goes to needs, 30% to your wants, and 20% gets set aside for the future. READ MORE

How Does Your Salary Compare to Others in Your Industry? Find Out Where You Stand

Many people think their pay is “average,” but when you stack your salary next to people with a similar title, even in other industries, you might be in for a surprise.

Most employers set salaries based on industry trends, job title, region, and the specific skills needed. Knowing exactly where you stand, and why, is the first step to boosting your pay. Let’s see what the numbers say in 2025. READ MORE

For most people, a bigger salary can make you happier—just not at your job

Money really can buy you happiness — just not at the office, finds new Wharton research.

That’s specifically true for U.S. adults earning up to $200,000 per year, according to an analysis published Thursday by Matt Killingsworth, a senior fellow at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Among that demographic, higher earners are happier in their day-to-day lives, but they’re not any happier at work than people with lower incomes, the analysis says. READ MORE

What a $100K Salary Looks Like After Taxes in Your State

America is still in the midst of a health crisis triggered by the global coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, this has brought financial hardship to many Americans -- especially because most have insufficient emergency funds. In a recent GOBankingRates survey, nearly half of those polled claimed to have less than one month of emergency savings tucked away, and fewer than 19% have more than six months of savings. At times like these, it’s more important than ever to focus on just how much income you take home from your paycheck so you can budget appropriately going forward. READ MORE