Median Incomes for Bankruptcy
Qualifying for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
The first step in the Chapter 7 means test - which determines if an individual is allowed to receive a debt discharge by filing Chapter 7 - is a comparison of household income.
The means test compares the bankruptcy filer's current monthly income with the annual median for a household of the same size and within the same state.
"Currently monthly income" includes wages and salaries (but usually excludes government benefits) for the six calendar months prior to filing, multiplied by two. For instance, if you plan on filing your case at any point in the month of July, the means test will consider all income from January to June, double that amount, and compare that with similar household sizes in the state.
If your income falls below the median, you'll likely be able to file Chapter 7. If it's above, the second step of the means test determines your disposable monthly income and compares that to your unsecured debts.
Current Median Incomes
The table on this page provides you with the median income figures for all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories for Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases filed on or after May 1, 2012 (your Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney will help you determine where you fall in line with the figures in your state).
| State |
Single-Earner |
2-Person |
3-Person |
4-Person* |
|---|
| * Add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4. |
| Alabama |
$39,531 |
$47,478 |
$52,798 |
$63,537 |
| Alaska |
$39,531 |
$47,478 |
$52,798 |
$63,537 |
| Arizona |
$42,691 |
$55,479 |
$58,292 |
$63,201
|
| Arkansas |
$35,283 |
$45,438 |
$48,520 |
$58,051 |
| California |
$49,188 |
$63,481 |
$68,135 |
$77,167 |
| Colorado |
$48,856 |
$64,402 |
$71,438
|
$82,427 |
| Connecticut |
$58,565 |
$72,562 |
$82,797 |
$102,579 |
| Delaware |
$49,566 |
$61,819 |
$73,508 |
$82,349 |
| District Of Columbia |
$52,148 |
$80,785 |
$$80,785 |
$119,656 |
| Florida |
$42,053 |
$51,299 |
$54,508 |
$64,722 |
| Georgia |
$40,947 |
$52,313 |
$57,470 |
$66,250 |
| Hawaii |
$52,712 |
$64,403 |
$78,296 |
$85,337 |
| Idaho |
$40,355 |
$50,796 |
$53,721 |
$63,236 |
| Illinois |
$46,983 |
$59,794 |
$68,865 |
$81,570 |
| Indiana |
$41,249 |
$51,237 |
$59,517 |
$69,420 |
| Iowa |
$41,933 |
$56,960 |
$64,216 |
$74,514 |
| Kansas |
$42,924 |
$57,562 |
$64,834 |
$74,959 |
| Kentucky |
$39,567 |
$46,107 |
$53,496 |
$64,558 |
| Louisiana |
$39,128 |
$47,626 |
$56,363 |
$67,854 |
| Maine |
$41,811 |
$53,371 |
$62,095 |
$77,097 |
| Maryland |
$59,269 |
$76,281 |
$86,807 |
$104,114 |
| Massachusetts |
$55,185 |
$66,200 |
$82,873 |
$102,194 |
| Michigan |
$45,056 |
$51,660 |
$60,313 |
$72,454 |
| Minnesota |
$47,618 |
$63,101 |
$74,050 |
$86,910 |
| Mississippi |
$34,172 |
$42,914 |
$46,973 |
$56,494 |
| Missouri |
$40,123 |
$52,200 |
$60,197 |
$69,378 |
| Montana |
$39,580 |
$51,313 |
$58,085 |
$70,469 |
| Nebraska |
$40,429 |
$57,271 |
$66,742 |
$73,496 |
| Nevada |
$44,508 |
$57,327 |
$62,776 |
$67,236 |
| New Hampshire |
$53,177 |
$63,626 |
$81,854 |
$94,646 |
| New Jersey |
$62,226 |
$69,634 |
$87,576 |
$105,175 |
| New Mexico |
$38,422 |
$51,078 |
$53,417 |
$56,365 |
| New York |
$47,381 |
$57,884 |
$69,066 |
$83,775 |
| North Carolina |
$39,088 |
$50,248 |
$56,024 |
$67,089 |
| North Dakota |
$44,309 |
$60,596 |
$69,367 |
$81,840 |
| Ohio |
$41,748 |
$51,839 |
$60,219 |
$72,827 |
| Oklahoma |
$38,649 |
$49,838 |
$55,015 |
$62,301 |
| Oregon |
$44,230 |
$53,967 |
$59,242 |
$68,719 |
| Pennsylvania |
$46,515 |
$54,767 |
$68,586 |
$79,102 |
| Rhode Island |
$47,798 |
$61,506 |
$68,909 |
$88,990 |
| South Carolina |
$38,849 |
$49,363 |
$52,428 |
$64,898 |
| South Dakota |
$37,961 |
$56,763 |
$63,557 |
$71,184 |
| Tennessee |
$39,165 |
$48,725 |
$53,272 |
$62,832 |
| Texas |
$40,925 |
$55,653 |
$59,650 |
$65,875 |
| Utah |
$49,697 |
$57,309 |
$61,508 |
$66,825 |
| Vermont |
$44,918 |
$56,850 |
$71,937 |
$79,736 |
| Virginia |
$52,202 |
$66,317 |
$73,905 |
$90,260 |
| Washington |
$53,302 |
$63,873 |
$71,379 |
$82,942 |
| West Virginia |
$42,178 |
$45,407 |
$52,596 |
$63,638 |
| Wisconsin |
$43,202 |
$57,428 |
$66,767 |
$78,520 |
| Wyoming |
$50,373 |
$64,031 |
$69,176 |
$75,678 |
| Commonwealth or U.S. Territory |
Single-Earner |
2-Person |
3-Person |
4-Person* |
|---|
| * Add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4. |
| Guam |
$37,631 |
$44,994 |
$51,273 |
$62,047 |
| Northern Mariana Islands |
$25,270 |
$25,270 |
$29,400 |
$43,242 |
| Puerto Rico |
$21,859 |
$21,859 |
$22,157 |
$28,717 |
| Virgin Islands |
$29,857 |
$35,884 |
$38,260 |
$41,918 |
Source: U.S. Trustee Program.
Note: State Median Income information may change on a regular basis. We will do our best to update this page in a timely manner, but cannot guarantee that the information presented here is current.
Get Help Performing the Means Test from an Attorney
Bankruptcy laws can be complex, and determining whether you're eligible to file and which chapter to file can be one of the most complicated parts. A local bankruptcy attorney can be a valuable guide when trying to determine if your income allows you to file Chapter 7.
You can connect with a bankruptcy attorney near you for a free, no-obligation consultation today. Simply fill out the quick case review form below to get started now.