Here’s another reason to keep scrolling on the dating apps.
As more adults are marrying later or choosing to stay single, a recent report calculated the average salary a single person needs to live comfortably in every state.
No shocker here: New York made the top five.
On average, single workers in the U.S. require an annual income of $57,200 to make a living wage in America, according to the analysis by GOBankingRates.
That amount is a couple thousand less than the average income of all American workers, regardless of marital status — $59,428, according to Forbes.
To determine the wage baselines, GoBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to quantify the minimum amount a single person would need to follow a 50/30/20 budget — meaning 50% for necessities, 30% for discretionary spending and 20% for savings or investments.
Hawaii is the most expensive state for singles, requiring them to rake in an annual salary of $112,411 to live comfortably.
Unfortunately, the average yearly salary in the Aloha State — which has one of the highest costs of living — falls significantly short at $61,420, reported Forbes.
Perhaps surprisingly, it’s also the only state where a single person needs to make six figures to get by.
Massachusetts, California, New York and Alaska fill out the top five salary needs for those who aren’t married or shacking up.
Ideally, singles in Massachusetts should be cashing in an annual salary of $87,909, but the average worker makes about $11,000 less, reporting an average pay of $76,600.
Unhitched employees in the Golden State, meanwhile, should want to collect $80,013 a year but aren’t likely to make that much, as the average salary in the state is reported at $73,220.
New York has yet again proven itself to encourage independence by requiring singles to make $73,226, which is just a little below the average salary of $74,870 calculated by Forbes.
Up in Alaska, singlehood also seems to be more welcoming. Solo people should be able to live comfortably aiming for an annual salary of $71,570, which seems achievable with a statewide average salary of $66,130.
Massachusetts, California and New York all require high living wages largely due to the fact that Boston, Los Angeles and New York City — some of the biggest cities in the country — have some of the highest housing costs in the U.S., which singles have to take on alone.
Other studies have additionally claimed that New York City is the most expensive place to live as a single person.
Unsurprisingly at the very bottom of the list, Mississippi — the poorest state in the country — only requires singles to make about $45,906 a year, which seems possible with an average salary of $45,180.
- Hawaii: $112,411
- Massachusetts: $87,909
- California: $80,013
- New York: $73,226
- Alaska: $71,570