How much North Carolinians in the top 1% make
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Americans need to make nearly $800,000 to be in the top 1% of households nationally — but the bar varies considerably by state.
By the numbers: Washington, D.C., has the highest threshold for one-percenters, at about $1.22 million.
- West Virginians has the lowest, at around $426,000.
Zoom in: North Carolinians in the top 1% make at least $673,503.80 as of 2021, adjusted to 2024 dollars.
- In 2021, close to 46,000 tax filers in North Carolina were in the state's top 1%.
How it works: These figures are based on adjusted gross income (AGI) reported on tax filings in the 2021 tax year, adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Between the lines: The variance between 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 to $112,500 for California.
The intrigue: A recent survey of Americans by generation found that Gen Z'ers, on average, said the minimum salary needed to be "financially successful" was close to $600,000 — a number far higher than what other generations think they need.