Money can’t directly buy happiness. However, it can provide safety, security, and experiences that make life more enjoyable and less stressful.

According to a recent Bankrate survey, Americans believe they would need a substantial income of over $230,000 per year to feel secure, and even more, $483,000, to feel rich. However, new data suggests that happiness can be achieved with much less.

A survey conducted by Moneyzine.com with over 1,200 participants found that an average salary of $94,696 would make Americans happy.

It’s important to note that earning a salary below six figures may not be sufficient for everyone, particularly in states with a higher cost of living. In 17 states, the average salary needed to feel happy exceeds $100,000.

Residents in two of the most expensive states to live, New York and Hawaii, claim that the highest salaries are required to achieve happiness. They believe it would take at least $200,000 per year on average.

In New York, the ideal salary for happiness is $288,543, which is over five times its median income of $52,478. Similarly, Hawaii’s dream income for happiness is $200,978, four times larger than its median salary of $48,568, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Hawaii is recognized as the state with the highest cost of living in the country, followed by New York as the fifth most expensive state, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Consequently, residents in these areas emphasize the need for higher salaries to achieve happiness.

On the other hand, residents in New Hampshire, the state with the lowest income necessary for happiness, claim they can be happy with a salary as little as $42,000, as reported by Moneyzine.com.

Below are the 17 states where Americans believe they would need salaries over $100,000 to feel happy, along with the median annual income for each state.