Remote Workers Outearn In-Person Workers in These WFH Hotspots

24/7 Wall St. Insights

Nationwide, the median earnings for remote workers is $70,280, 1.4 times the $48,755 median for all workers. In some cities, the delta is far greater, with remote workers outearning the in-person workforce by a factor of two or higher. In recent years, many high-earning remote workers have moved to either low-cost cities in the Midwest or vacation towns on the coast or in the country, boosting their purchasing power and enlarging local disparities in pay among the remote and non-remote workforce. A closer look at the earnings gap between remote and in-person workers reveals a diverse mix of cities with high educational attainment, low cost of living, or natural amenities like beaches and mountains.

To determine the cities where remote workers outearn in-person workers the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on commuting characteristics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey. Metropolitan statistical areas were ranked based on the ratio of median earnings for the workforce 16 years and over who worked from home to the median earnings for all workers 16 years and over. Supplemental data on remote employment by industry is also from the ACS. Data on median earnings for remote workers, median earnings for all workers, and the percentage of workers who work from home are one-year estimates for 2023, while data on employment by industry are based on five-year estimates for 2022.

50. Fort Wayne, IN

• Median earnings for remote workers: $61,228 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,583
• Workers who work from home: 9.2%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

49. Columbus, OH

• Median earnings for remote workers: $73,044 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $50,769
• Workers who work from home: 16.8%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

48. Bend, OR

• Median earnings for remote workers: $73,193 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $50,749
• Workers who work from home: 20.8%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

47. Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $61,222 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,430
• Workers who work from home: 7.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

46. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $79,183 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $54,740
• Workers who work from home: 15.1%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

45. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

• Median earnings for remote workers: $94,126 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $65,012
• Workers who work from home: 17.7%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

44. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

• Median earnings for remote workers: $60,649 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,880
• Workers who work from home: 17.1%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

43. Bozeman, MT

• Median earnings for remote workers: $72,376 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $49,956
• Workers who work from home: 10.6%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

42. Rochester, NY

• Median earnings for remote workers: $72,323 (1.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $49,916
• Workers who work from home: 12.5%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

41. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

• Median earnings for remote workers: $101,696 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $69,982
• Workers who work from home: 21.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

40. Grand Forks, ND-MN

• Median earnings for remote workers: $60,954 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,939
• Workers who work from home: 5.4%
• Biggest WFH industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance

39. Chattanooga, TN-GA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $62,321 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,854
• Workers who work from home: 13.0%
• Biggest WFH industry: Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing

38. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT

• Median earnings for remote workers: $81,195 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $55,807
• Workers who work from home: 14.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing

37. Amherst Town-Northampton, MA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $67,207 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $46,185
• Workers who work from home: 15.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: N/A

36. Canton-Massillon, OH

• Median earnings for remote workers: $60,423 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,376
• Workers who work from home: 9.8%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

35. St. Louis, MO-IL

• Median earnings for remote workers: $73,866 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $50,540
• Workers who work from home: 13.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

34. Evansville, IN

• Median earnings for remote workers: $65,679 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $44,551
• Workers who work from home: 7.0%
• Biggest WFH industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance

33. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX

• Median earnings for remote workers: $86,196 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $58,457
• Workers who work from home: 24.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

32. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $75,595 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $50,722
• Workers who work from home: 19.1%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

31. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $100,317 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $67,222
• Workers who work from home: 20.3%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

30. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT

• Median earnings for remote workers: $90,404 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $60,569
• Workers who work from home: 16.3%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

29. Manchester-Nashua, NH

• Median earnings for remote workers: $86,445 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $57,912
• Workers who work from home: 17.5%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

28. Wilmington, NC

• Median earnings for remote workers: $67,059 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $44,854
• Workers who work from home: 18.8%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

27. Kenosha, WI

• Median earnings for remote workers: $71,302 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $47,674
• Workers who work from home: 9.4%
• Biggest WFH industry: N/A

26. New Orleans-Metairie, LA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $65,414 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $43,712
• Workers who work from home: 10.6%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

25. Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC

• Median earnings for remote workers: $68,261 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $45,357
• Workers who work from home: 11.8%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

24. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

• Median earnings for remote workers: $77,013 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $51,142
• Workers who work from home: 16.5%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

23. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $120,710 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $80,124
• Workers who work from home: 16.2%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

22. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $111,710 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $74,059
• Workers who work from home: 20.5%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

21. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $83,643 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $55,214
• Workers who work from home: 16.0%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

20. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $75,349 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $49,668
• Workers who work from home: 15.0%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

19. Raleigh-Cary, NC

• Median earnings for remote workers: $86,532 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $56,950
• Workers who work from home: 24.5%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

18. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL

• Median earnings for remote workers: $70,209 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $45,964
• Workers who work from home: 16.0%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

17. Salem, OR

• Median earnings for remote workers: $65,025 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,570
• Workers who work from home: 12.8%
• Biggest WFH industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance

16. Worcester, MA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $85,205 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $55,673
• Workers who work from home: 12.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance

15. Boulder, CO

• Median earnings for remote workers: $80,253 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $52,315
• Workers who work from home: 28.1%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

14. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL

• Median earnings for remote workers: $65,409 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,633
• Workers who work from home: 13.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

13. St. Cloud, MN

• Median earnings for remote workers: $65,005 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,315
• Workers who work from home: 9.6%
• Biggest WFH industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance

12. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

• Median earnings for remote workers: $81,031 (1.5 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $52,392
• Workers who work from home: 15.5%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

11. Naples-Marco Island, FL

• Median earnings for remote workers: $66,084 (1.6 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,123
• Workers who work from home: 18.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

10. Ann Arbor, MI

• Median earnings for remote workers: $80,479 (1.6 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $51,221
• Workers who work from home: 19.2%
• Biggest WFH industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance

9. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $81,498 (1.6 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $50,823
• Workers who work from home: 14.2%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

8. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $70,744 (1.6 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $43,998
• Workers who work from home: 11.8%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

7. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $75,855 (1.6 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $46,952
• Workers who work from home: 13.0%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

6. Trenton-Princeton, NJ

• Median earnings for remote workers: $89,203 (1.6 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $55,128
• Workers who work from home: 15.9%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

5. Iowa City, IA

• Median earnings for remote workers: $69,904 (1.6 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $43,026
• Workers who work from home: 11.6%
• Biggest WFH industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance

4. Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL

• Median earnings for remote workers: $70,620 (1.7 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,049
• Workers who work from home: 9.4%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

3. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ

• Median earnings for remote workers: $80,793 (1.7 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $47,324
• Workers who work from home: 10.3%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

2. Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC

• Median earnings for remote workers: $70,655 (1.7 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $40,615
• Workers who work from home: 12.1%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

1. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

• Median earnings for remote workers: $98,882 (2.4 times all workers)
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,911
• Workers who work from home: 10.6%
• Biggest WFH industry: Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

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