Mapped: The Income You’ll Need to Survive The Tarrifs in Every State

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Mapped: The Income You’ll Need to Survive The Tarrifs in Every State

By Chu E. - April 14, 2025

American families face new financial challenges as trade wars escalate. With Chinese tariffs hitting 145% and American goods facing 125% duties in China, households will pay about $1,300 more annually. The income needed to stay middle-class varies dramatically by location. Here’s what families need to earn in each state to weather this economic storm.

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Maryland: $44.00 Per Hour

Mapped: The Income You’ll Need to Survive The Tarrifs in Every State — Source: Openverse

Maryland families need $91,503 yearly for middle-class living. Government jobs near D.C. provide stability, but this comes with the nation’s highest income requirements. Baltimore’s manufacturing sector feels direct tariff impacts while healthcare and education offer some protection against economic turbulence in this high-cost Atlantic region with steep transportation costs.

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District of Columbia: $43.94 Per Hour

D.C. residents need $91,388 annually. Federal government employment provides remarkable stability amid economic uncertainty, yet housing costs remain astronomical. Urban professionals face minimal direct manufacturing impacts but encounter higher prices for virtually everything. International embassies and organizations create unique economic dynamics not seen elsewhere in this uniquely positioned American territory.

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Massachusetts: $43.73 Per Hour

Massachusetts families need $90,945 annually for middle-class status. The state’s renowned education and biotechnology sectors provide substantial job security compared to retail or manufacturing. Boston’s housing market amplifies inflation pressures while outlying areas fare slightly better. The healthcare industry continues its growth trajectory despite economic headwinds from the ongoing tariff situation.

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New Jersey: $43.56 Per Hour

New Jersey households must earn $90,596 yearly to maintain middle-class comfort. The state’s pharmaceutical industry provides economic insulation while manufacturing faces direct tariff pressures. Port proximity initially meant faster access to goods, but now translates to immediate tariff impact. Property taxes exacerbate economic strain on family budgets throughout the state.

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New Hampshire: $43.16 Per Hour

New Hampshire requires $89,765 annually for middle-class sustainability. The tech sector provides economic stability while manufacturing faces rising material costs. Boston-adjacent communities experience substantially different pressures than northern regions. The absence of state income tax creates some buffer against inflation while tourism experiences minimal direct tariff impact in this state.

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California: $41.44 Per Hour

California families need $86,207 yearly for middle-class living. Silicon Valley faces direct impact from electronics component tariffs while the entertainment industry provides some economic diversity. Housing remains extraordinarily expensive despite modest market corrections. Agricultural exports suffer from China’s retaliatory measures while port congestion creates additional supply chain disruptions beyond tariff impacts.

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Hawaii: $41.42 Per Hour

Hawaii requires $86,157 annually for middle-class comfort. Island geography magnifies tariff impacts across virtually all consumer categories, from food to construction materials. Tourism provides employment but faces uncertainty from global economic disruptions. Housing costs remain among the nation’s highest despite recent cooling in this geographically isolated paradise heavily dependent on imports.

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Washington: $41.13 Per Hour

Washington families need $85,547 yearly to maintain middle-class status. Seattle’s tech sector provides some economic insulation while aerospace manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts on materials and components. Housing costs remain high despite recent market cooling. Agricultural exports suffer from retaliatory measures in this state with substantial Asian trade connections.

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Connecticut: $40.90 Per Hour

Connecticut requires $85,071 annually for middle-class sustainability. The financial services sector offers relative stability while manufacturing workers feel direct tariff pressure. Insurance industry employees fare better than retail workers amid economic uncertainty. Housing costs remain substantial despite modest market cooling while defense contractors experience mixed impacts from trade policies.

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Colorado: $40.17 Per Hour

Colorado families need $83,554 yearly for middle-class living. Denver’s technology sector provides some economic insulation while tourism experiences minimal direct tariff impact. Housing costs remain high despite modest cooling in urban markets. Outdoor recreation equipment manufacturing faces higher component costs while the state’s diverse economic base provides relative stability compared to others.

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Virginia: $39.55 Per Hour

Virginia requires $82,263 annually for middle-class comfort. Government sector employment provides remarkable stability against economic turbulence, particularly in Northern Virginia. Defense contractors experience mixed impacts from tariffs. Housing costs vary dramatically between D.C. suburbs and other regions, while the technology corridor continues expanding despite equipment cost increases.

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Utah: $38.82 Per Hour

Utah families need $80,749 yearly for middle-class sustainability. Salt Lake City’s diverse economy provides some insulation while manufacturing centers feel direct tariff impacts. The technology sector continues growing despite higher equipment costs. Housing prices have climbed substantially, especially in urban corridors, while outdoor recreation equipment manufacturing faces increased component costs.

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Alaska: $38.05 Per Hour

Alaska requires $79,145 annually for middle-class living. Remote geography magnifies tariff impacts through already-high shipping costs for virtually everything. Energy sector strength provides some economic buffer against broader inflationary pressures. Housing costs vary dramatically between Anchorage, Fairbanks, and rural communities in this import-dependent state despite abundant natural resources.

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Minnesota: $37.99 Per Hour

Minnesota families need $79,020 yearly to maintain middle-class comfort. Medical device manufacturing faces higher component costs while agricultural exports suffer from retaliatory tariffs. The diversified economy provides some buffer against sector-specific shocks. Twin Cities residents experience steeper price increases than their rural counterparts as household budgets adjust to higher prices on goods.

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New York: $36.35 Per Hour

New York requires $75,614 annually for middle-class sustainability. Wall Street professionals weather economic storms better than average families facing exorbitant housing costs and inflated import prices. NYC residents are particularly vulnerable due to heavy reliance on imported goods. Upstate manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts while transportation costs surge across this diverse state.

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Rhode Island: $36.21 Per Hour

Rhode Island families need $75,308 yearly for middle-class living. The healthcare sector provides some economic stability while manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts. Providence experiences different economic patterns than coastal communities. Housing costs remain high despite modest market cooling in this compact state where virtually all residents experience similar inflation patterns with minimal regional variation.

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Vermont: $35.45 Per Hour

Vermont requires $73,731 annually for middle-class comfort. Tourism faces minimal direct tariff impact while manufacturing experiences material cost increases. Burlington residents encounter different economic pressures than rural communities. Housing costs remain high, particularly in destination communities, while the agricultural sector faces both export challenges and import competition from trade disputes.

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Illinois: $35.34 Per Hour

Illinois families need $73,505 yearly for middle-class sustainability. Chicago offers diverse employment opportunities but faces heightened consumer price increases. Manufacturing workers experience direct tariff impacts on materials and components. Agricultural exports suffer from China’s retaliatory measures, while transportation costs have jumped substantially, especially affecting those with longer commutes.

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Oregon: $35.03 Per Hour

Oregon requires $72,862 annually for middle-class living. Portland’s technology and creative sectors provide some economic insulation while manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts. Housing costs remain high despite recent market cooling. Agricultural exports suffer from retaliatory measures, especially in wine and specialty crops with substantial trade connections to Asian markets.

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Delaware: $34.80 Per Hour

Delaware families need $72,391 yearly to maintain middle-class comfort. The financial sector provides significant economic stability while manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts. Wilmington residents experience different economic pressures than southern communities. Housing costs vary dramatically across this small but economically diverse state while the lack of sales tax provides some consumer buffer.

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Arizona: $33.83 Per Hour

Arizona requires $70,356 annually for middle-class sustainability. Phoenix housing remains relatively affordable compared to Western coastal cities. Manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts, especially electronics assembly. Border communities experience immediate effects from Mexican trade disruptions while retirees on fixed incomes struggle most with inflation, particularly for healthcare and imported consumer goods.

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Pennsylvania: $33.78 Per Hour

Pennsylvania families need $70,257 yearly for middle-class living. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offer economic diversity, while manufacturing centers face direct tariff impacts. Energy production provides some economic buffer in western regions. Housing costs vary dramatically between urban centers and rural communities while healthcare and education sectors provide employment stability.

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Wisconsin: $32.90 Per Hour

Wisconsin requires $68,425 annually for middle-class sustainability. Manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts, especially in paper and machinery production. Agricultural exports suffer from retaliatory measures, particularly dairy products. Madison and Milwaukee experience different economic pressures than rural communities, while healthcare expenses continue rising independently of tariff impacts.

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Texas: $32.82 Per Hour

Texas families need $68,263 yearly for middle-class comfort. Energy sector strength partially offsets tariff pressures, though oil equipment faces higher costs. Border communities experience direct impact from Mexican trade disruptions. Houston and Dallas see different inflation patterns than smaller cities, while the technology sector continues expanding despite higher component prices.

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Nebraska: $32.75 Per Hour

Nebraska requires $68,117 annually for middle-class sustainability. Agricultural exports, especially beef and corn, face retaliatory tariff challenges. Omaha and Lincoln experience different economic pressures than rural communities. Housing remains affordable despite modest inflation while the insurance and financial sectors provide economic stability despite agricultural market disruptions.

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Georgia: $32.63 Per Hour

Georgia families need $67,859 yearly for middle-class living. Atlanta’s diverse economy provides some insulation while manufacturing centers feel direct tariff impacts. The bustling port of Savannah faces shipping disruptions and volume changes. Housing remains relatively affordable despite recent price increases. The film industry continues providing economic stability.

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North Dakota: $32.61 Per Hour

North Dakota requires $67,819 annually for middle-class comfort. Energy sector strength provides economic buffer despite equipment tariff impacts. Fargo experiences different inflation patterns than rural communities. Housing remains affordable despite modest market pressures while agricultural exports face challenges from retaliatory tariffs, especially on wheat and soybeans.

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Idaho: $32.58 Per Hour

Idaho families need $67,774 yearly for middle-class sustainability. The technology sector in Boise provides some economic stability while agricultural exports face retaliatory measures. Housing costs have risen dramatically, especially in rapidly-growing urban centers. Manufacturing experiences direct tariff impacts while the outdoor recreation industry faces higher equipment costs.

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Nevada: $32.49 Per Hour

Nevada requires $67,574 annually for middle-class living. Las Vegas tourism provides employment but faces uncertainty from global economic disruptions. Housing has cooled from recent highs but remains expensive in urban centers. Manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts while Reno’s growing technology sector offers some economic diversity.

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South Dakota: $32.42 Per Hour

South Dakota families need $67,443 yearly for middle-class comfort. Tourism around Mount Rushmore faces minimal tariff impact while manufacturing experiences direct materials cost increases. Sioux Falls residents encounter different economic pressures than rural communities. Housing affordability provides a substantial buffer against inflation while healthcare costs continue climbing independently of tariff pressures.

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Iowa: $32.16 Per Hour

Iowa requires $66,900 annually for middle-class sustainability. Agricultural exports face severe challenges from retaliatory tariffs, especially on soybeans and pork. Manufacturing centers experience direct impacts from steel and aluminum tariffs. Housing remains affordable despite modest inflation while healthcare and education costs continue rising independently of tariff pressures.

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Wyoming: $31.97 Per Hour

Wyoming families need $66,504 yearly for middle-class living. Energy sector strength provides an economic buffer while tourism sees minimal tariff impact. Cheyenne and Casper experience different economic pressures than rural communities. Housing remains affordable despite modest inflation while limited economic diversification creates vulnerability to sector-specific disruptions from trade uncertainty.

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Maine: $31.76 Per Hour

Maine requires $66,067 annually for middle-class comfort. Tourism faces minimal direct tariff impact while manufacturing experiences material cost increases. Portland residents encounter different economic pressures than rural communities. Housing costs vary dramatically between coastal and inland areas while the seafood industry faces both export challenges and import competition.

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Kansas: $31.45 Per Hour

Kansas families need $65,424 yearly to maintain middle-class status. Agricultural exports suffer from retaliatory measures while aerospace manufacturing faces component tariff impacts. Wichita experiences different economic pressures than Kansas City or Topeka. Housing remains relatively affordable despite modest inflation while energy costs have increased less dramatically than in coastal states.

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Michigan: $31.15 Per Hour

Michigan requires $64,798 annually for middle-class living. Auto industry dependence creates acute vulnerability to both tariffs and retaliatory measures. Detroit’s gradual recovery faces new headwinds from trade uncertainty and supply chain disruptions. Housing remains relatively affordable compared to coastal states, while food costs have risen sharply across this manufacturing-dependent state.

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Montana: $31.03 Per Hour

Montana families need $64,549 yearly for middle-class comfort. Natural resource industries provide some economic insulation while tourism sees minimal direct tariff impact. Housing costs vary dramatically between Bozeman, Missoula, and rural communities. Agricultural exports face challenges from retaliatory measures, while transportation costs have increased substantially due to rising fuel prices.

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Florida: $30.94 Per Hour

Florida requires $64,362 annually for middle-class sustainability. Tourism industry workers face mixed prospects as domestic travel increases but international visitors decrease. Coastal property insurance continues climbing alongside tariff-induced inflation. Miami experiences substantially higher living costs than Jacksonville or Tampa, while construction costs have surged with lumber and steel tariffs.

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Indiana: $30.79 Per Hour

Indiana families need $64,043 yearly for middle-class comfort. Automotive manufacturing faces direct impacts from parts tariffs and supply chain disruptions. Indianapolis offers more economic diversity than smaller manufacturing centers. Housing remains affordable despite modest inflation, while agricultural exports face challenges from retaliatory measures from trade partners.

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Ohio: $30.56 Per Hour

Ohio requires $63,562 annually for middle-class living. The state’s substantial automotive manufacturing sector feels immediate pain from parts tariffs. Steel price increases affect construction and manufacturing equally. Columbus residents fare slightly better than Cleveland or Cincinnati counterparts while healthcare workers maintain relative stability amid economic uncertainty.

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North Carolina: $30.42 Per Hour

North Carolina families need $63,272 yearly for middle-class sustainability. The Research Triangle provides economic diversity while manufacturing centers face direct tariff impacts. Charlotte’s financial sector offers stability amid economic turbulence. Housing remains relatively affordable despite recent price increases, while furniture manufacturing faces particular challenges from materials tariffs.

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Missouri: $30.36 Per Hour

Missouri requires $63,147 annually for middle-class comfort. St. Louis and Kansas City offer economic diversity. Manufacturing centers face direct tariff impacts. Agricultural exports experience challenges from retaliatory measures. Housing remains affordable despite modest inflation, while transportation equipment manufacturing faces particular pressure from automotive parts tariffs.

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Tennessee: $29.32 Per Hour

Tennessee families need $60,995 yearly for middle-class living. Nashville’s entertainment and healthcare sectors provide some economic stability while manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts. Memphis experiences different economic patterns due to its dependence on shipping and logistics. Housing remains relatively affordable despite recent price increases throughout the Volunteer State.

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South Carolina: $29.14 Per Hour

South Carolina requires $60,618 annually for middle-class sustainability. Automotive manufacturing faces direct impacts from parts tariffs and supply chain disruptions. Charleston experiences different economic patterns than Greenville or Columbia. Housing remains relatively affordable despite recent price increases, while tourism along the coast provides some economic diversity.

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Oklahoma: $27.46 Per Hour

Oklahoma families need $57,126 yearly for middle-class living. Energy sector strength partially offsets tariff pressures, though equipment faces higher costs. Housing remains among the nation’s most affordable, providing budget breathing room. Oklahoma City and Tulsa experience different inflation patterns than rural areas throughout this energy-dependent southern plains state.

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Kentucky: $27.34 Per Hour

Kentucky requires $56,873 annually for middle-class comfort. Bourbon exports face retaliatory tariffs while manufacturing experiences direct impacts from materials costs. Louisville and Lexington see different economic patterns than rural communities. Housing affordability provides substantial budget breathing room while the healthcare sector offers relative stability amid economic uncertainty.

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New Mexico: $26.58 Per Hour

New Mexico families need $55,292 yearly for middle-class sustainability. The energy sector provides some economic buffer while government employment offers stability. Albuquerque and Santa Fe experience different economic pressures than rural communities. Housing remains relatively affordable compared to neighboring Colorado and Arizona, while border communities face immediate impacts from trade disruptions.

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Alabama: $26.55 Per Hour

Alabama requires $55,213 annually for middle-class living. Automotive manufacturing faces direct impacts from parts tariffs. Huntsville’s aerospace and technology sectors provide relative stability. Mobile experiences different economic patterns than Birmingham or Montgomery. Housing affordability provides a substantial buffer against inflation while healthcare costs continue rising across the state.

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Arkansas: $25.88 Per Hour

Arkansas families need $53,828 yearly for middle-class comfort. Walmart’s headquarters provides some economic stability while retail workers face nationwide challenges. Manufacturing experiences direct tariff impacts, especially furniture production. Housing remains highly affordable despite modest inflation, while rural communities face different economic pressures than Little Rock or Fayetteville.

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Louisiana: $25.67 Per Hour

Louisiana requires $53,387 annually for middle-class sustainability. Energy sector strength partially counterbalances port shipping disruptions. New Orleans experiences different economic patterns than Baton Rouge or rural parishes. Housing remains affordable despite modest inflation, while the seafood industry faces both tariff impacts and retaliatory measures affecting coastal communities.

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West Virginia: $25.26 Per Hour

West Virginia families need $52,548 yearly for a middle-class living. Energy sector strength partially counterbalances manufacturing tariff impacts. The nation’s most affordable housing market provides substantial breathing room for family budgets. Healthcare remains expensive despite lower overall living costs, while limited economic diversification creates vulnerability to sector-specific disruptions.

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Mississippi: $24.05 Per Hour

Mississippi requires $50,016 annually for middle-class sustainability—the nation’s lowest threshold. Extremely affordable housing provides a substantial buffer against inflation. Manufacturing faces direct tariff impacts while agriculture experiences retaliatory measures. Gulf Coast communities see different economic patterns than interior regions, while lower average wages create vulnerability despite the lower cost threshold.

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Conclusion

The trade war’s impact reaches far beyond simple price increases at store checkouts. Each state faces unique challenges based on its economic structure, housing market, and dependency on international trade. While some regions benefit from diversified economies or natural resource abundance, others face acute vulnerability from manufacturing or agricultural dependency throughout this reshaping economic landscape.

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