What is the average Social Security check?
The national average monthly Social Security (OASDI) benefit is $1,852 (SSA, OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024). OASDI stands for Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, the full Social Security program. This figure counts all beneficiaries, so it blends retired workers, survivors, and people with disabilities into one average payment.
This average is a useful starting point. It tells you the rough income floor that many households build a retirement plan on. But it is a national number, and the national number can be far from what people receive in your own state or county.
What is the average Social Security check by state?
State averages spread out well above and below the national $1,852 (SSA, OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024). The table below ranks the average monthly benefit by state, highest to lowest, using that same 2024 source.
| Rank | State | Average monthly benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $2,055 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $2,052 |
| 3 | Delaware | $2,046 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $2,027 |
| 5 | Maryland | $1,999 |
| 6 | Washington | $1,968 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $1,964 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $1,933 |
| 9 | Colorado | $1,924 |
| 10 | Virginia | $1,920 |
| 11 | Utah | $1,914 |
| 12 | Michigan | $1,910 |
| 13 | Kansas | $1,909 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $1,909 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $1,908 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $1,903 |
| 17 | Arizona | $1,899 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $1,899 |
| 19 | Vermont | $1,891 |
| 20 | Indiana | $1,880 |
| 21 | Illinois | $1,876 |
| 22 | New York | $1,876 |
| 23 | Oregon | $1,876 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $1,875 |
| 25 | Iowa | $1,865 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $1,861 |
| 27 | Florida | $1,847 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $1,844 |
| 29 | Idaho | $1,831 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $1,830 |
| 31 | Nevada | $1,813 |
| 32 | California | $1,812 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $1,810 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $1,808 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $1,801 |
| 36 | Missouri | $1,791 |
| 37 | Georgia | $1,786 |
| 38 | Montana | $1,785 |
| 39 | Texas | $1,783 |
| 40 | Ohio | $1,780 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $1,766 |
| 42 | Maine | $1,757 |
| 43 | Alabama | $1,751 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $1,726 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $1,726 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $1,701 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $1,693 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $1,658 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $1,657 |
Which states have the highest and lowest average Social Security benefits?
Connecticut has the highest state average at $2,055 a month, and Mississippi has the lowest at $1,657 (SSA, OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024). That is a gap of nearly four hundred dollars a month between the top and bottom states.
The county gap is even wider. The highest county average is Falls Church, Virginia at $2,437, and the lowest is Starr County, Texas at $1,003 (SSA, OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024). So the local picture can sit far from the national $1,852.
Why does the average Social Security benefit differ from state to state?
A retirement benefit is figured from your lifetime earnings and the age you claim (SSA retirement benefits). States differ in wages, careers, and when people retire. Places with higher lifetime earnings tend to show higher average checks. Places with lower typical earnings show lower averages. The state average reflects the working history of the people who live there.
The mix of beneficiaries matters too. A state with more retired high earners will average higher than a state with more survivors or younger disability beneficiaries. None of this is a rule about any single person. It is the math of many different checks added together.
Is the average the same as the check I will get?
No. These averages describe places, not any one person's benefit, and your own check depends on your own earnings and the age you claim. Two people in the same town can receive very different amounts.
Claiming age is a big lever. People often ask about the average Social Security check at 62, the earliest age most can claim, and the average Social Security check at 67, which is full retirement age for many. Claiming earlier generally means a smaller monthly benefit, and waiting generally means a larger one (SSA retirement benefits). To see how amounts are figured and paid, read how Social Security benefit amounts and payments work.
How does your Social Security check fit into planning for long-term care?
Think of your monthly check as an income floor. It is the steady base your retirement plan starts from. Knowing your local average is step one in seeing the gap between that floor and the cost of care later in life.
Long-term care, like a nursing home stay, can cost far more than a Social Security check covers. When you know your likely monthly benefit, you can measure how large that gap could be and plan for the rest. For a deeper look, see how your Social Security check fits with paying for nursing home care. If you need to handle your benefits in person, you can find your local Social Security office.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Social Security check?
It is $1,852 a month in 2024 across all beneficiaries (SSA, OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024). This blends retirement, survivor, and disability benefits into one national average.
What is the average Social Security check by state?
State averages run from about $1,657 to $2,055 a month (SSA, OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024). The ranked table above lists every state from highest to lowest.
Which states have the highest and lowest average Social Security benefits?
Connecticut is highest at $2,055 and Mississippi is lowest at $1,657 (SSA, OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024).
Why does the average Social Security benefit differ from state to state?
Because benefits come from lifetime earnings and claiming age (SSA retirement benefits), and states differ in wages, careers, and who lives there.
Is the average the same as the check I will get?
No. The average describes a place, not a person. Your check depends on your own earnings and the age you claim (SSA retirement benefits).
How does your Social Security check fit into planning for long-term care?
It is the income floor your plan starts from. Comparing it to the cost of care shows the gap you may need to cover, as explained in how your Social Security check fits with paying for nursing home care.