What Does the Top 1 Percent Make? 2025 Income Breakdown Across America

Wondering what separates the ultra-wealthy from the rest of America? The answer lies in hard numbers. If you’re pulling in six figures, you might already be climbing toward the upper echelons of U.S. wage earners—but reaching the elite top 1 percent threshold requires significantly more.

The Exact Income Figure for Top Earners

According to the latest Social Security Administration data analyzed from 2023 wage records, joining America’s top 1 percent income bracket demands approximately $794,129 in annual earnings. That translates to roughly $66,178 monthly or $15,272 weekly.

Interestingly, this figure represents a 3.30% drop from the prior year, revealing that high-income earners haven’t experienced the same wage growth momentum as the broader population.

Understanding the Broader Wealth Tiers

Not everyone aspires to the top 1 percent threshold. Here’s where the income divisions fall:

• Top 10% income requirement: $148,812 annually
• Top 5% income requirement: $352,773 annually
• Top 1% income requirement: $794,129 annually

Breaking this down: earning near $150,000 annually positions you above 90% of American households, landing you firmly in the top 10%. If your income surpasses $350,000, you’ve entered the more exclusive top 5% bracket.

Geographic Disparities: Your State Matters

Here’s where the story gets interesting—your location dramatically influences what “top 1 percent” actually means. The same income that qualifies you in one state might fall short in another.

Highest Income Requirements (Top 10 States):

1. Connecticut — $1,192,947
2. Massachusetts — $1,152,992
3. California — $1,072,248
4. Washington — $1,024,599
5. New Jersey — $1,010,101
6. New York — $999,747
7. Colorado — $896,273
8. Florida — $882,302
9. Wyoming — $872,896
10. New Hampshire — $839,742

Lowest Income Requirements (Bottom 10 States):

41. Ohio — $601,685
42. Iowa — $591,921
43. Alabama — $577,017
44. Indiana — $572,403
45. Oklahoma — $559,981
46. Arkansas — $550,469
47. Kentucky — $532,013
48. New Mexico — $493,013
49. Mississippi — $456,309
50. West Virginia — $435,302

The disparity is staggering: earning $1.19 million makes you part of the elite in Connecticut, while the same income would place you well beyond the top 1 percent in West Virginia. The gap between the highest-earning state (Connecticut) and the lowest (West Virginia) exceeds $750,000 annually—a reminder that regional economics play a crucial role in defining wealth.