11. Illinois
Annual median wage: $76,860
Cost of living: 95.5
Employment: 3,880
Illinois might not be the cheapest state to live in the country, but it remains to be one of the most popular states. The state boasts of awesome museums and parks, as well as a huge chunk of Fortune 500 companies. Illinois also has living expenses cheaper than most American states, considering the many opportunities they have for all sorts of jobs.