Here's how much you need to make in Georgia to be in the top 1%
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Georgians have to earn $709,480 annually to be in the top 1% of households in the state.
Why it matters: Keeping up with high-flying Joneses is expensive — and requires you to make nearly 10 times the state's median household income of $71,355, according to the latest census data.
Reality check: If living that 1% dream is your life's mission, then you better start saving for a career in medicine or dentistry.
- Anesthesiologists, surgeons, psychiatrists, dentists and orthodontists are among the top five highest-paying occupations in the state, job search site Indeed said in July.
- Unfortunately, this list doesn't include certain hard-working journalists.
Zoom out: Georgia's threshold is slightly below the national average of around $800,000, but the bar varies considerably by state.
- Washington, D.C., has the highest threshold for 1%-ers: about $1.22 million.
- Connecticut ($1.17 million), Massachusetts ($1.13 million) and California ($1.05 million) follow.
The other side: West Virginia comes in at the lowest where residents need to make $426,000 to be in their state's 1%.
How it works: These figures are based on adjusted gross income reported on tax filings in the 2021 tax year, adjusted to 2024 dollars.
- Close to 46,000 Georgian returns met the 1% threshold.
Between the lines: The variance among states is tied in part to local economic factors, like job opportunities and wealth concentration.
- West Virginia's floor may be low, for example — but the total AGI per tax return there was about $60,300 in 2021, compared with $112,500 for California.

