From Occupy Wall Street to the “Fight for 15” movement to Bernie Sanders’ campaign, we’ve heard the cries to narrow the gap between America’s poorest and richest.
But just how wide is that gap? A new report from the liberal Economic Policy Institute answers the question in remarkable detail.
In 2013, the top 1 percent of Americans made 25 times as much in income, on average, as the bottom 99 percent, the report found. And the gap has been widening over time. The study found that between 1979 and 2013, the top one percent’s share of income doubled nationally, increasing from 10 percent to 20.1 percent.
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By using 2013 tax return information, the EPI also showed huge variations in the income gap by state, metropolitan area and county. The map below, for example, shows the state-by-state differences in the average income of the top 1 percent and the other 99 percent. In New York State, the average one-percenter makes $2 million a year, more than 45 times what the average earner in the bottom 99 percent makes. In Alaska, on the other hand, the gap between the average earnings is a much narrower 13 times.
This next map shows what residents had to earn in 2013 to be in the top 1 percent in each state. The bar is highest in the Northeastern states of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, as well as the District of Columbia. The income levels for the top 1% were lowest in New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia, Mississippi and Kentucky.
Scan the map or search the list below it to learn more about the top 1 percent and income inequality in your state.
1. Connecticut
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $660,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $2.4 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $56,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 43 times
2. District of Columbia
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $555,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.5 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $63,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 24 times
3. New Jersey
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $548,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.5 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $57,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 25 times
4. Massachusetts
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $539,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.7 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $56,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 30 times
5. New York
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $518,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $2 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $44,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 45 times
6. North Dakota
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $482,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.3 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $61,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 21 times
7. California
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $454,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.4 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $49,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 29 times
8. Texas
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $425,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.3 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $48,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 27 times
9. Maryland
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $422,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $60,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 17 times
10. Illinois
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $416,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.2 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $49,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 25 times
11. Colorado
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $411,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.1 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $55,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 20 times
12. Minnesota
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $411,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $53,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 20 times
13. Virginia
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $406,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $988,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $56,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 18 times
14. Washington
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $388,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.1 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $50,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 22 times
15. South Dakota
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $387,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $53,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 19 times
16. Florida
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $385,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.3 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $37,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 35 times
17. Wyoming
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $369,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $2.1 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $52,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 41 times
18. Alaska
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $365,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $833,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $63,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 13 times
19. New Hampshire
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $360,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $57,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 18 times
20. Pennsylvania
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $360,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $926,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $46,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 20 times
21. Kansas
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $352,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $981,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $50,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 20 times
22. Georgia
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $346,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $858,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $41,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 21 times
23. Nebraska
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $346,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $873,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $57,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 15 times
24. Delaware
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $343,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $769,109
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $48,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 16 times
25. Rhode Island
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $337,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $885,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $48,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 19 times
26. Utah
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $334,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $941,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $50,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 19 times
27. North Carolina
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $328,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $746,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $42,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 18 times
28. Louisiana
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $325,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $860,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $42,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 21 times
29. Oklahoma
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $325,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $930,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $45,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 21 times
30. Iowa
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $317,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $714,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $51,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 14 times
31. Ohio
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $317,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $753,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $42,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 18 times
32. Oregon
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $313,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $754,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $41,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 19 times
33. Nevada
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $312,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $1.4 million
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $36,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 38 times
34. Wisconsin
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $312,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $888,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $47,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 19 times
35. Arizona
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $309,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $785,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $38,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 21 times
36. Tennessee
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $309,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $820,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $40,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 20 times
37. Michigan
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $307,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $834,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $38,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 22 times
38. Missouri
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $306,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $834,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $42,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 20 times
39. Vermont
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $299,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $736,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $46,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 16 times
40. Montana
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $298,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $731,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $42,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 17 times
41. Indiana
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $297,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $718,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $43,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 17 times
42. Idaho
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $292,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $738,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $45,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 16 times
43. South Carolina
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $288,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $669,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $37,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 18 times
44. Alabama
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $284,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $665,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $39,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 17 times
45. Hawaii
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $282,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $690,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $51,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 14 times
46. Maine
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $282,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $613,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $41,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 15 times
47. Kentucky
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $268,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $620,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $37,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 17 times
48. Mississippi
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $265,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $565,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $33,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 17 times
49. West Virginia
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $245,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $489,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $34,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 14 times
50. Arkansas
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $237,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $750,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $36,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 21 times
51. New Mexico
How much you need to earn to be in the top 1 percent: $231,000
Average income of the top 1 percent: $594,000
Average income of the bottom 99 percent: $38,000
How much does the 1 percent make compared to the bottom 99 percent? 16 times
