Odessa, Midland rank 1 and 2 for those without college degrees

The average income of a person without a college degree living in Odessa was $37,794, according to a report issued last week by CreditLoan.com. Midland ranked second – not only in communities with between 100,000 and 249,999 residents but across the nation. Midland residents without a college degree earned an average of $31,452.

less The average income of a person without a college degree living in Odessa was $37,794, according to a report issued last week by CreditLoan.com. Midland ranked second – not only in communities with between ... more Photo: James Durbin Buy photo Photo: James Durbin Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Odessa, Midland rank 1 and 2 for those without college degrees 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Odessa leads the nation in average income of those living in the city without a college degree and the amount (percentage-wise) those without a college degree earn over a living wage.

The average income of a person without a college degree living in Odessa was $37,794, according to a report issued last week by CreditLoan.com. Midland ranked second – not only in communities with between 100,000 and 249,999 residents but across the nation. Midland residents without a college degree earned an average of $31,452.

In terms of the income earned by those without a college degree compared to the living wage in the area, Odessa was again No. 1 percentage-wise. The average income was 40.1 percent greater than the living wage. Midland ranked fifth; residents without college degrees made 12.9 percent more than the living wage.

The living wage in Odessa is considered to be $25,168. The living wage in Midland is $27,643, according to CreditLoan.

CreditLoan also noted the percentage of people without a college degree in Odessa was 54.42 percent of the working population. In Midland, that percentage is 48.93 percent.

Not only were Odessa and Midland ranked 1-2 in terms of average income for a person without a college degree, the two metropolitan areas ranked 1-2 in the study overall. The report states metropolitan areas were based on a living wage (the minimum amount a full-time employee needs to earn to support a family), average salary and poverty rates. Overall, the most important factor was the ratio of income to living wage. Information from 2013-17 was used for the survey.

The only other metropolitan areas from Texas in the nation’s top 25 were Victoria (12th) and Wichita Falls (23rd).

Go to www.creditloan.com/blog for more information.

The top 10 overall

Odessa

Midland

East Strougsburg, Pennsylvania

Rockford, Illinois

Elkhart-Goshen, Indiana

Williamsport, Indiana

Olympia-Turnwater, Washington

Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey

California-Lexington Park, Maryland.