What is the best state to be a educational instruction and library workers, all other?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a educational instruction and library workers, all other: a BLS median of $83,130 is worth $71,827 after the 2025 state income tax ($4,191) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 139.8 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a educational instruction and library workers, all other at $83,130, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 139.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other

Best States to Be a Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a educational instruction and library workers, all other salary goes furthest in District of Columbia — a $83,130 BLS median worth $71,827 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 139.8).

Which US states are best for a educational instruction and library workers, all other after cost of living and tax?

For a educational instruction and library workers, all other, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks District of Columbia #1: a $83,130 BLS median becomes $71,827 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 139.8). Georgia ranks last ($25,019, index 48.7). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

District of Columbia ranks #1 of 50 states for a educational instruction and library workers, all other. Index 100 = the average state; 139.8 means pay goes 39.8% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

139.8

Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	District of Columbia	$83,130	$4,191	109.9	$71,827	139.8
2	South Dakota	$63,010	—	88.6	$71,129	138.4
3	New Hampshire	$70,990	—	104.2	$68,151	132.6
4	Tennessee	$59,610	—	91.9	$64,885	126.3
5	North Dakota	$56,930	—	89.0	$63,996	124.5
6	Wisconsin	$61,940	$2,131	94.1	$63,563	123.7
7	North Carolina	$61,580	$2,075	94.3	$63,084	122.8
8	New Mexico	$58,840	$1,651	92.2	$62,019	120.7
9	South Carolina	$59,210	$2,064	93.7	$60,957	118.6
10	Colorado	$64,090	$2,160	103.1	$60,096	116.9
11	Louisiana	$53,790	$1,239	88.2	$59,577	115.9
12	Arizona	$58,220	$981	100.7	$56,855	110.6
13	Massachusetts	$62,630	$2,912	105.8	$56,468	109.9
14	California	$64,100	$1,996	110.7	$56,091	109.2
15	Hawaii	$64,450	$3,368	110.0	$55,554	108.1
16	Alaska	$56,470	—	102.4	$55,169	107.4
17	Kansas	$51,690	$2,085	90.1	$55,075	107.2
18	Washington	$58,500	—	107.0	$54,666	106.4
19	Maryland	$59,830	$2,509	105.0	$54,613	106.3
20	Delaware	$56,870	$2,479	99.8	$54,495	106.0
21	Minnesota	$54,640	$2,227	98.6	$53,146	103.4
22	Oklahoma	$48,380	$1,760	87.8	$53,071	103.3
23	Wyoming	$48,520	—	92.7	$52,346	101.9
24	Mississippi	$46,450	$1,239	87.0	$51,995	101.2
25	Montana	$50,710	$1,854	94.6	$51,621	100.5
26	Ohio	$46,860	$506	92.8	$49,964	97.2
27	Virginia	$52,590	$2,224	101.1	$49,816	96.9
28	Nevada	$49,720	—	100.0	$49,730	96.8
29	Michigan	$49,300	$1,849	96.2	$49,317	96.0
30	Missouri	$45,790	$1,271	90.8	$49,020	95.4
31	New Jersey	$54,550	$1,466	108.8	$48,788	94.9
32	Connecticut	$51,910	$1,411	103.6	$48,740	94.8
33	Kentucky	$45,350	$1,683	90.2	$48,433	94.2
34	New York	$52,000	$2,255	107.9	$46,094	89.7
35	Nebraska	$42,270	$1,112	90.1	$45,679	88.9
36	Maine	$45,680	$1,481	97.0	$45,543	88.6
37	Florida	$47,030	—	103.4	$45,477	88.5
38	Iowa	$40,620	$1,504	87.8	$44,571	86.7
39	Illinois	$46,390	$2,155	100.0	$44,253	86.1
40	Arkansas	$39,380	$1,327	86.9	$43,770	85.2
41	Oregon	$48,160	$3,410	103.4	$43,295	84.3
42	Idaho	$42,520	$1,301	95.5	$43,164	84.0
43	Texas	$40,930	—	97.1	$42,171	82.1
44	Vermont	$40,880	$951	98.0	$40,762	79.3
45	Alabama	$37,630	$1,617	88.8	$40,545	78.9
46	West Virginia	$37,230	$1,007	89.5	$40,474	78.8
47	Indiana	$37,600	$1,098	93.3	$39,111	76.1
48	Pennsylvania	$38,760	$1,190	97.6	$38,505	74.9
49	Utah	$38,020	$1,730	98.9	$36,707	71.4
50	Georgia	$24,780	$689	96.3	$25,019	48.7

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In District of Columbia, a $83,130 salary is worth about $67,509 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $8,936 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $74,194 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $93,841, a $26,332 gain over District of Columbia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$93,841	88.6
2	Arkansas	$91,892	86.9
3	Louisiana	$91,417	88.2
4	Mississippi	$91,397	87.0
5	Iowa	$91,123	87.8
6	North Dakota	$91,111	89.0
7	Tennessee	$90,487	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$90,140	87.8
9	Wyoming	$89,685	92.7
10	Alabama	$88,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$88,516	90.2
12	West Virginia	$88,409	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a educational instruction and library workers, all other?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a educational instruction and library workers, all other: a BLS median of $83,130 is worth $71,827 after the 2025 state income tax ($4,191) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 139.8 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a educational instruction and library workers, all other at $83,130, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 139.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a educational instruction and library workers, all other salary go least far?: Georgia ranks last of 50 states for a educational instruction and library workers, all other: a $24,780 BLS median is worth only $25,019 after tax and cost of living (index 48.7). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a educational instruction and library workers, all other is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.