A new ranking has revealed which states are most in need of taking up a second job or side hustle in order to supplement their income, according to current living wages.
The research, conducted by tech experts Hostinger, compared each state’s average salary to the current living wage, to determine which parts of the US have the least financial flexibility after covering necessary expenses - including healthcare, housing and groceries.
The living wage considers the minimum amount required to live ‘comfortably’ with basic needs and expenditures accounted for, and is also designed to help employers gauge an appropriate salary to award employees in specific geographies.
However, critics have stated that - despite some states raising their minimum wages - nowhere yet offers a minimum wage that’s in line with the living wage, never mind above it.
And it turns out that Mississippi would benefit the most from pursuing a second job, as the typical worker is left with just $7.5k a year after the state’s $32.6k living wage is deducted.
Although some sources cite that workers in the Magnolia State take home $55k a year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites the annual salary as just $40.1k, meaning many are left struggling to make ends meet after covering their essential expenses.
Other states that are more likely to require a second income in order to have financial flexibility after covering the basics include Arkansas, with the typical person earning $10.3k above the $32k living wage, and South Dakota ($12k left over after the $30.8k living wage).
States most in need of a second job, ranked
State | Living Wage | Average Salary | Residual Wage |
Mississippi | $32,573 | $40,090 | $7,517 |
South Carolina | $36,338 | $44,380 | $8,042 |
Hawaii | $45,739 | $54,930 | $9,191 |
Arkansas | $32,344 | $42,690 | $10,346 |
Louisiana | $33,592 | $44,170 | $10,578 |
Idaho | $33,613 | $44,890 | $11,277 |
Maine | $37,190 | $48,470 | $11,280 |
West Virginia | $32,136 | $43,420 | $11,284 |
Montana | $33,946 | $45,370 | $11,424 |
Alabama | $33,093 | $44,930 | $11,837 |
On a nationwide level, the living wage is currently $36k - equivalent to $17.31 an hour - whilst the average American has $14.9k ‘spare’ after this is deducted from their salary.
Regardless of the fact that some states’ hourly wages are barely more than the living wage (including North Dakota at $15.22, Arkansas at $16.43 and Mississippi at $16.69), when put into perspective, this residual $14.9k doesn’t go as far as you might think.
For example, an unexpected medical expense can cost up to $1,199, according to the Federal Reserve System, while car repairs can cost as much as $548 per year.
Given that many will be considering taking up a second job or a side hustle in order to feel more secure or to boost their savings, the researchers at Hostinger also analyzed which state is best for those looking to freelance - and New York came out on top.
The analysis takes into account each state’s earning potential for writers, as this is considered to be one of the easiest careers for freelancers to break into, based on demand.
The ranking also looked at each state’s market competition - the number of writers, journalists and editors listed in each - and how much time the average person has after their main job, based on working hours reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Each state was assigned a score out of 10 based on their suitability, with New York scoring the highest at 7 /10 - closely followed by Montana, Oregon, and Nebraska.
Although the typical New Yorker doesn’t have the most spare time to dedicate to a side hustle after putting in 40.4 hours per week at work, the state had some of the best earning potential, as writers and editors stand to earn a huge $111.3k a year in a full-time role.
The best states for freelance writing, ranked
New York
Montana
Oregon
Nebraska
Vermont
Delaware
North Dakota
Maryland
Colorado
Hawaii
Overall, the state that offered the best earning potential for writers came out as California, with a salary of $129.3k, whilst workers in Alaska have the most free time to dedicate to a second job, as they put in just 31.3 hours at their main job each week.
Freelancers in Alaska and Montana will come up against the most market competition, as there’s a high number of writers and editors, but can still do well if they find their own niche.
Speaking on the findings, Emma Young, Head of Content at Hostinger, offers three tips to those looking to pursue a writing side-hustle, and build a successful career:
Pick the perfect platform. Choosing the right platform to host your writing is key, as each offers different customization options and pricing structures. Beginners will want to look for a platform that makes it easy to set up a site, while more tech-savvy bloggers might prioritize customization. Either way, make sure that your platform is SEO-friendly so that it’s easier for your target audience to find.
Bring together your branding. Lifestyle blogs like Goop, The Tig and Poosh attract readers because of their branding, as well as their celebrity owners. Investing in things like a consistent color scheme, a unique logo and bespoke writing style when publishing content online will make it easier for your audience to find you on different platforms - and help you to build an instantly-recognizable identity.
Write from the heart. One of the hardest aspects of writing is deciding what to cover, as it can feel like everything’s already been spoken about. You can use tools like Google Trends, online influencers and social media crazes for inspiration, but the most important thing is to write about things that you’re passionate about, as this will make it easier for your readers to engage with your content.
- ENDS -
Data gathered from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Google Search Results, Ahrefs, Google Trends and Indeed.
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