What is the best state to be a receptionists and information clerks?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a receptionists and information clerks: a BLS median of $39,530 is worth $44,436 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 116.4 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 receptionists and information clerks at $49,060, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #4 of 51 on real pay (index 112.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

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Best States to Be a Receptionists and Information Clerks

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a receptionists and information clerks salary goes furthest in North Dakota — a $39,530 BLS median worth $44,436 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 116.4).

Which US states are best for a receptionists and information clerks after cost of living and tax?

For a receptionists and information clerks, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks North Dakota #1: a $39,530 BLS median becomes $44,436 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 116.4). West Virginia ranks last ($34,739, index 91.0). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 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

North Dakota ranks #1 of 51 states for a receptionists and information clerks. Index 100 = the average state; 116.4 means pay goes 16.4% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

116.4

Receptionists and Information Clerks — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	North Dakota	$39,530	—	89.0	$44,436	116.4
2	Alaska	$44,720	—	102.4	$43,689	114.4
3	South Dakota	$38,280	—	88.6	$43,212	113.2
4	District of Columbia	$49,060	$1,844	109.9	$42,963	112.5
5	Wisconsin	$41,150	$1,051	94.1	$42,615	111.6
6	Maine	$42,440	$1,293	97.0	$42,398	111.0
7	Washington	$44,710	—	107.0	$41,780	109.4
8	Nebraska	$37,860	$891	90.1	$41,030	107.4
9	Iowa	$37,330	$1,379	87.8	$40,965	107.3
10	Rhode Island	$42,620	$998	102.3	$40,694	106.6
11	Wyoming	$37,480	—	92.7	$40,435	105.9
12	Massachusetts	$43,870	$1,974	105.8	$39,616	103.7
13	Colorado	$42,010	$1,188	103.1	$39,613	103.7
14	California	$44,100	$776	110.7	$39,129	102.5
15	Arkansas	$34,840	$1,150	86.9	$38,752	101.5
16	Kansas	$36,050	$1,212	90.1	$38,680	101.3
17	Ohio	$35,920	$205	92.8	$38,496	100.8
18	Missouri	$35,740	$799	90.8	$38,474	100.8
19	Montana	$37,360	$1,066	94.6	$38,347	100.4
20	Connecticut	$40,630	$903	103.6	$38,342	100.4
21	Vermont	$38,370	$867	98.0	$38,285	100.3
22	New York	$43,080	$1,764	107.9	$38,283	100.3
23	Oklahoma	$34,560	$1,104	87.8	$38,086	99.7
24	Tennessee	$34,910	—	91.9	$37,999	99.5
25	Arizona	$38,730	$493	100.7	$37,980	99.5
26	Indiana	$36,160	$1,055	93.3	$37,614	98.5
27	New Jersey	$41,650	$753	108.8	$37,587	98.4
28	Michigan	$37,470	$1,346	96.2	$37,544	98.3
29	Idaho	$36,810	$976	95.5	$37,525	98.3
30	New Mexico	$35,140	$591	92.2	$37,467	98.1
31	South Carolina	$35,510	$594	93.7	$37,244	97.5
32	Nevada	$37,050	—	100.0	$37,058	97.0
33	Oregon	$40,900	$2,775	103.4	$36,886	96.6
34	Minnesota	$37,510	$1,207	98.6	$36,811	96.4
35	New Hampshire	$38,160	—	104.2	$36,634	95.9
36	Pennsylvania	$36,810	$1,130	97.6	$36,568	95.8
37	North Carolina	$35,440	$964	94.3	$36,549	95.7
38	Louisiana	$32,750	$608	88.2	$36,440	95.4
39	Hawaii	$41,600	$1,679	110.0	$36,308	95.1
40	Texas	$35,210	—	97.1	$36,278	95.0
41	Georgia	$36,100	$1,299	96.3	$36,141	94.6
42	Illinois	$37,400	$1,710	100.0	$35,705	93.5
43	Utah	$36,960	$1,682	98.9	$35,684	93.4
44	Florida	$36,810	—	103.4	$35,595	93.2
45	Virginia	$37,060	$1,331	101.1	$35,339	92.5
46	Kentucky	$32,940	$1,187	90.2	$35,219	92.2
47	Mississippi	$31,160	$566	87.0	$35,185	92.1
48	Alabama	$32,590	$1,365	88.8	$35,155	92.1
49	Delaware	$36,310	$1,338	99.8	$35,039	91.8
50	Maryland	$38,100	$1,477	105.0	$34,893	91.4
51	West Virginia	$31,920	$830	89.5	$34,739	91.0

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 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 North Dakota, a $39,530 salary is worth about $43,325 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $988 (≈ top marginal 2.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $38,542 · BEA cost of living 89.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $44,623, a $1,298 gain over North Dakota.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$44,623	88.6
2	Arkansas	$43,696	86.9
3	Louisiana	$43,471	88.2
4	Mississippi	$43,461	87.0
5	Iowa	$43,331	87.8
6	North Dakota	$43,325	89.0
7	Tennessee	$43,028	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$42,863	87.8
9	Wyoming	$42,647	92.7
10	Alabama	$42,279	88.8
11	Kentucky	$42,091	90.2
12	West Virginia	$42,040	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).

Receptionists and Information Clerks — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a receptionists and information clerks?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a receptionists and information clerks: a BLS median of $39,530 is worth $44,436 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 116.4 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 receptionists and information clerks at $49,060, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #4 of 51 on real pay (index 112.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a receptionists and information clerks salary go least far?: West Virginia ranks last of 51 states for a receptionists and information clerks: a $31,920 BLS median is worth only $34,739 after tax and cost of living (index 91.0). 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 receptionists and information clerks is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.