What is the best state to be a social scientists and related workers, all other?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Virginia is the best state for a social scientists and related workers, all other: a BLS median of $140,670 is worth $131,925 after the 2025 state income tax ($7,289) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 101.1), an index of 141.7 where the average state is 100.

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

Not necessarily. Virginia has the highest headline BLS median for a social scientists and related workers, all other at $140,670, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 49 on real pay (index 141.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other

Best States to Be a Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a social scientists and related workers, all other salary goes furthest in Virginia — a $140,670 BLS median worth $131,925 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 141.7).

Which US states are best for a social scientists and related workers, all other after cost of living and tax?

For a social scientists and related workers, all other, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Virginia #1: a $140,670 BLS median becomes $131,925 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 141.7). Maine ranks last ($72,689, index 78.1). 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

Virginia ranks #1 of 49 states for a social scientists and related workers, all other. Index 100 = the average state; 141.7 means pay goes 41.7% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

141.7

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Virginia	$140,670	$7,289	101.1	$131,925	141.7
2	Maryland	$131,810	$5,995	105.0	$119,870	128.8
3	Nebraska	$104,420	$4,334	90.1	$111,080	119.3
4	District of Columbia	$128,440	$8,042	109.9	$109,551	117.7
5	Texas	$101,800	—	97.1	$104,887	112.7
6	Ohio	$98,630	$1,930	92.8	$104,232	112.0
7	Alabama	$95,370	$4,504	88.8	$102,301	109.9
8	West Virginia	$94,520	$3,621	89.5	$101,567	109.1
9	Louisiana	$91,170	$2,360	88.2	$100,684	108.1
10	Iowa	$91,560	$3,439	87.8	$100,409	107.9
11	Minnesota	$103,330	$5,538	98.6	$99,160	106.5
12	Colorado	$105,390	$3,977	103.1	$98,409	105.7
13	South Dakota	$86,260	—	88.6	$97,374	104.6
14	Pennsylvania	$97,640	$2,998	97.6	$96,998	104.2
15	Oklahoma	$88,610	$3,671	87.8	$96,694	103.9
16	Arizona	$99,320	$2,008	100.7	$96,658	103.8
17	Washington	$102,920	—	107.0	$96,175	103.3
18	Nevada	$95,620	—	100.0	$95,640	102.7
19	Wyoming	$88,610	—	92.7	$95,597	102.7
20	New Mexico	$91,170	$3,190	92.2	$95,410	102.5
21	Massachusetts	$105,640	$5,062	105.8	$95,103	102.2
22	Mississippi	$85,550	$2,959	87.0	$94,983	102.0
23	Illinois	$99,050	$4,762	100.0	$94,328	101.3
24	Indiana	$89,440	$2,653	93.3	$92,990	99.9
25	New York	$104,770	$5,238	107.9	$92,227	99.1
26	Wisconsin	$88,830	$3,556	94.1	$90,626	97.3
27	Georgia	$91,210	$4,269	96.3	$90,288	97.0
28	Kansas	$85,160	$3,952	90.1	$90,163	96.8
29	New Jersey	$101,260	$4,260	108.8	$89,150	95.8
30	Idaho	$88,610	$3,926	95.5	$88,680	95.3
31	Utah	$91,560	$4,166	98.9	$88,398	94.9
32	Tennessee	$80,860	—	91.9	$88,016	94.5
33	Delaware	$92,330	$4,753	99.8	$87,746	94.2
34	Missouri	$80,850	$2,919	90.8	$85,811	92.2
35	North Dakota	$76,400	$252	89.0	$85,599	91.9
36	South Carolina	$83,780	$3,587	93.7	$85,540	91.9
37	Oregon	$95,900	$7,587	103.4	$85,441	91.8
38	Rhode Island	$89,960	$2,774	102.3	$85,243	91.6
39	Arkansas	$76,400	$2,771	86.9	$84,692	91.0
40	Michigan	$84,260	$3,335	96.2	$84,107	90.3
41	Kentucky	$78,850	$3,023	90.2	$84,103	90.3
42	California	$97,900	$4,983	110.7	$83,921	90.1
43	North Carolina	$81,420	$2,918	94.3	$83,224	89.4
44	Montana	$82,380	$3,722	94.6	$83,108	89.3
45	New Hampshire	$86,530	—	104.2	$83,070	89.2
46	Florida	$83,460	—	103.4	$80,705	86.7
47	Hawaii	$92,520	$5,501	110.0	$79,143	85.0
48	Vermont	$79,450	$2,862	98.0	$78,185	84.0
49	Maine	$73,920	$3,375	97.0	$72,689	78.1

"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 Virginia, a $140,670 salary is worth about $131,134 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $8,089 (≈ top marginal 5.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $132,581 · BEA cost of living 101.1 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $158,795, a $27,661 gain over Virginia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$158,795	88.6
2	Arkansas	$155,496	86.9
3	Louisiana	$154,693	88.2
4	Mississippi	$154,659	87.0
5	Iowa	$154,195	87.8
6	North Dakota	$154,176	89.0
7	Tennessee	$153,119	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$152,531	87.8
9	Wyoming	$151,762	92.7
10	Alabama	$150,453	88.8
11	Kentucky	$149,783	90.2
12	West Virginia	$149,602	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

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).

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a social scientists and related workers, all other?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Virginia is the best state for a social scientists and related workers, all other: a BLS median of $140,670 is worth $131,925 after the 2025 state income tax ($7,289) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 101.1), an index of 141.7 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Virginia has the highest headline BLS median for a social scientists and related workers, all other at $140,670, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 49 on real pay (index 141.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a social scientists and related workers, all other salary go least far?: Maine ranks last of 49 states for a social scientists and related workers, all other: a $73,920 BLS median is worth only $72,689 after tax and cost of living (index 78.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

Compare other occupations

Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS

BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.

Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

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 social scientists and related workers, all other is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.