What is the best state to be a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, West Virginia is the best state for a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals: a BLS median of $48,460 is worth $52,524 after the 2025 state income tax ($1,452) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.5), an index of 139.2 where the average state is 100.

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

Not necessarily. Alaska has the highest headline BLS median for a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals at $50,450, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 49 on real pay (index 130.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

Best States to Be a Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals salary goes furthest in West Virginia — a $48,460 BLS median worth $52,524 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 139.2).

Which US states are best for a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals after cost of living and tax?

For a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks West Virginia #1: a $48,460 BLS median becomes $52,524 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 139.2). Georgia ranks last ($28,585, index 75.8). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 49 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

West Virginia ranks #1 of 49 states for a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals. Index 100 = the average state; 139.2 means pay goes 39.2% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

139.2

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	West Virginia	$48,460	$1,452	89.5	$52,524	139.2
2	Alaska	$50,450	—	102.4	$49,287	130.6
3	North Dakota	$40,320	—	89.0	$45,324	120.1
4	Minnesota	$46,020	$1,662	98.6	$44,978	119.2
5	South Dakota	$38,000	—	88.6	$42,896	113.7
6	Washington	$45,370	—	107.0	$42,397	112.4
7	Maine	$42,170	$1,277	97.0	$42,136	111.7
8	Mississippi	$37,430	$842	87.0	$42,078	111.5
9	Wyoming	$38,920	—	92.7	$41,989	111.3
10	Idaho	$40,580	$1,191	95.5	$41,248	109.3
11	Hawaii	$47,050	$2,072	110.0	$40,908	108.4
12	Kentucky	$38,030	$1,390	90.2	$40,639	107.7
13	Vermont	$40,730	$946	98.0	$40,614	107.6
14	Nebraska	$37,220	$859	90.1	$40,355	107.0
15	Iowa	$36,480	$1,346	87.8	$40,033	106.1
16	North Carolina	$38,750	$1,105	94.3	$39,909	105.8
17	Kansas	$37,060	$1,268	90.1	$39,739	105.3
18	Alabama	$36,620	$1,566	88.8	$39,465	104.6
19	Indiana	$37,530	$1,096	93.3	$39,038	103.5
20	New Mexico	$36,400	$645	92.2	$38,775	102.8
21	Maryland	$41,760	$1,651	105.0	$38,214	101.3
22	Montana	$37,010	$1,045	94.6	$37,999	100.7
23	New Hampshire	$39,520	—	104.2	$37,940	100.6
24	Colorado	$39,740	$1,089	103.1	$37,507	99.4
25	Oklahoma	$33,670	$1,062	87.8	$37,121	98.4
26	Virginia	$38,670	$1,424	101.1	$36,839	97.6
27	South Carolina	$35,090	$568	93.7	$36,824	97.6
28	Tennessee	$33,720	—	91.9	$36,704	97.3
29	Delaware	$36,940	$1,373	99.8	$35,635	94.4
30	Florida	$36,790	—	103.4	$35,575	94.3
31	Louisiana	$31,940	$583	88.2	$35,549	94.2
32	Missouri	$32,950	$668	90.8	$35,547	94.2
33	New Jersey	$38,960	$646	108.8	$35,213	93.3
34	Pennsylvania	$35,360	$1,086	97.6	$35,127	93.1
35	Texas	$33,920	—	97.1	$34,949	92.6
36	Massachusetts	$38,280	$1,694	105.8	$34,594	91.7
37	Arizona	$35,160	$404	100.7	$34,522	91.5
38	California	$38,640	$557	110.7	$34,395	91.2
39	Wisconsin	$32,970	$691	94.1	$34,305	90.9
40	Ohio	$31,200	$76	92.8	$33,549	88.9
41	Connecticut	$35,140	$656	103.6	$33,282	88.2
42	Michigan	$32,660	$1,142	96.2	$32,758	86.8
43	Arkansas	$29,340	$936	86.9	$32,672	86.6
44	Illinois	$33,840	$1,534	100.0	$32,320	85.7
45	Oregon	$35,480	$2,301	103.4	$32,101	85.1
46	Utah	$32,970	$1,500	98.9	$31,831	84.4
47	Nevada	$31,700	—	100.0	$31,707	84.0
48	New York	$34,860	$1,312	107.9	$31,085	82.4
49	Georgia	$28,410	$884	96.3	$28,585	75.8

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 49 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 West Virginia, a $48,460 salary is worth about $51,537 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $2,336 (≈ top marginal 4.82% (upper bound)) · take-home $46,124 · BEA cost of living 89.5 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $54,704, a $3,167 gain over West Virginia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$54,704	88.6
2	Arkansas	$53,568	86.9
3	Louisiana	$53,291	88.2
4	Mississippi	$53,279	87.0
5	Iowa	$53,119	87.8
6	North Dakota	$53,113	89.0
7	Tennessee	$52,748	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$52,546	87.8
9	Wyoming	$52,281	92.7
10	Alabama	$51,830	88.8
11	Kentucky	$51,600	90.2
12	West Virginia	$51,537	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).

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, West Virginia is the best state for a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals: a BLS median of $48,460 is worth $52,524 after the 2025 state income tax ($1,452) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.5), an index of 139.2 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Alaska has the highest headline BLS median for a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals at $50,450, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 49 on real pay (index 130.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals salary go least far?: Georgia ranks last of 49 states for a farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals: a $28,410 BLS median is worth only $28,585 after tax and cost of living (index 75.8). 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 farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.