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Wyoming Income Ranking 7th In Nation

Wyoming's average personal income of just over $55,000 ranked seventh in the nation in 2015. Wyoming workers earned over $10,000 higher than the average in the region.

However, wages decreased by $37 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to the third. According to the state's Economic Analysis Division, the construction sector has had the largest impact on income growth, while mining and farming have seen the biggest decline.

Economist Jim Robinson says despite recent downward trends in the energy industry, he expects things to stabilize.

"The current number is eleven rigs - maybe five for oil, six for gas. Compare that to a year ago, where we were in the low thirties for the two areas combined. So we've really slowed down a lot, and I don't think there's much more we can lose in the state," he says. "We probably aren't going to see too much more of a decline. So what we'll be seeing going forward probably is very small changes to that personal income just because the economy in Wyoming now has really slowed down quite a bit. There's really not much more room for the economy to slow down."

Robinson says over the past few years, Wyoming's income ranking has remained in the top ten, partially due to the state's small and stable population.

Samuel Sanders attends the University of Wyoming where he is working on a BA degree in English. He grew up in Sheridan, WY where he graduated from high school in 2014. Sam plays violin in the University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, and he plans on keeping playing for the rest of his life. Sam’s passions include listening to music of almost all types and reading classic literature. Some of Sam’s hobbies include gourmet cooking and trying to write poetry. He has listened to NPR and WPR for his entire life and has in part taken on his internship with WPR in order to pay tribute to this element which has helped to shape his life.
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