October 01, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Highest pay in 2001: Connecticut

Among the States, Connecticut had the highest average annual pay level ($46,963) in 2001.

Average annual pay for all covered workers, U.S. and selected states, 2001
[Chart data—TXT]

New York had the next highest pay level in 2001 ($46,664), followed by Massachusetts ($44,976), New Jersey ($44,285), and California ($41,358). 

The 2001 average pay levels of these five highest-ranking States, accounting for one quarter of the nation's employment, ranged from 14 to 30 percent higher than the U.S. average of $36,214. Occupying the remaining top 10 pay positions for States were, in order of 2001 pay levels, Illinois, Delaware, Maryland, Colorado and Washington. 

Average annual pay in the District of Columbia was $56,024 in 2001.

The BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program produced these data. Pay data presented here are for all workers covered by State and Federal unemployment insurance programs. Data for 2001 are preliminary and subject to revision. Find more information on pay in 2001 in "Average Annual Pay By State and Industry, 2001," news release USDL 02-540.