Alaska leads the nation in average credit-card debt, and new Experian data shows balances rising in nearly every state.
Experian has released an updated look at how Americans are managing credit cards in its most recent State of Credit Cards and Average Credit Card Balance by State data.
The newest figures provide a clearer picture of how credit-card debt continues to rise nationwide and how balances vary across the country. The analysis includes average balances for every state, credit-card utilization, and year-over-year changes from 2023 to 2024.
This latest dataset shows that average balances increased almost everywhere in the past year – a sign that consumers are still struggling with high prices, elevated interest rates, and the lasting financial pressures of the past few years.
The big result
When it comes to which state now carries the highest average credit-card debt, the new Experian data shows a major shift from earlier years.
Alaska currently tops the list, with the average Alaskan consumer carrying $8,077 in credit-card debt as of Q3 2024. Alaska has historically ranked high in revolving-credit balances, but the latest increase reinforces that it remains the most indebted state on a per-consumer basis.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wisconsin has the lowest average credit-card balance, at $5,370. That gap of more than $2,700 between the lowest- and highest-balance states highlights how differently Americans experience credit-card debt depending on where they live.
Nationally, the average consumer carries $6,730 in credit-card debt – an increase from the previous year and one of the highest averages on record.
Average credit card debt by state
| State | Credit Card Utilization Rate | FICO score | Credit Card Balance, 2023 | Credit Card Balance, 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 33% | 692 | $5,878 | $6,074 | +3.3% |
| Alaska | 34% | 722 | $7,863 | $8,077 | +2.7% |
| Arizona | 30% | 712 | $6,497 | $6,800 | +4.7% |
| Arkansas | 33% | 695 | $5,667 | $5,826 | +2.8% |
| California | 27% | 722 | $6,736 | $7,080 | +5.1% |
| Colorado | 27% | 731 | $6,996 | $7,267 | +3.9% |
| Connecticut | 28% | 726 | $7,381 | $7,568 | +2.5% |
| Delaware | 30% | 714 | $6,622 | $6,841 | +3.3% |
| District of Columbia | 28% | 715 | $7,548 | $7,861 | +4.1% |
| Florida | 31% | 707 | $7,112 | $7,392 | +3.9% |
| Georgia | 34% | 695 | $6,955 | $7,238 | +4.1% |
| Hawaii | 28% | 732 | $7,107 | $7,560 | +6.4% |
| Idaho | 27% | 730 | $5,876 | $6,131 | +4.3% |
| Illinois | 28% | 720 | $6,553 | $6,726 | +2.6% |
| Indiana | 29% | 712 | $5,502 | $5,621 | +2.2% |
| Iowa | 26% | 730 | $5,227 | $5,329 | +2% |
| Kansas | 28% | 722 | $5,939 | $6,082 | +2.4% |
| Louisiana | 35% | 690 | $6,141 | $6,359 | +3.6% |
| Maine | 26% | 731 | $5,614 | $5,826 | +3.8% |
| Maryland | 31% | 715 | $7,282 | $7,492 | +2.9% |
| Massachussetts | 25% | 732 | $6,603 | $6,853 | +3.8% |
| Michigan | 28% | 719 | $5,787 | $5,932 | +2.5% |
| Minnesota | 24% | 742 | $5,906 | $6,068 | +2.7% |
| Mississippi | 29% | 680 | $5,415 | $5,553 | +2.5% |
| Missouri | 29% | 714 | $5,902 | $6,042 | +2.4% |
| Montana | 27% | 732 | $5,877 | $6,122 | +4.2% |
| Nebraska | 26% | 731 | $5,811 | $5,945 | +2.3% |
| Nevada | 33% | 701 | $6,987 | $7,308 | +4.6% |
| New Jersey | 27% | 724 | $7,401 | $7,605 | +2.8% |
| New Mexico | 31% | 702 | $5,833 | $6,023 | +3.3% |
| New York | 28% | 721 | $6,809 | $7,010 | +3% |
| North Carolina | 31% | 709 | $6,205 | $6,434 | +3.7% |
| North Dakota | 27% | 733 | $5,895 | $5,991 | +1.6% |
| Ohio | 28% | 716 | $5,759 | $5,871 | +1.9% |
| Oklahoma | 33% | 696 | $6,145 | $6,291 | +2.4% |
| Oregon | 27% | 732 | $5,986 | $6,199 | +3.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 27% | 722 | $6,111 | $6,245 | +2.2% |
| Rhode Island | 28% | 721 | $6,419 | $6,498 | +4.2% |
| South Carolina | 31% | 700 | $6,239 | $6,498 | +4.2% |
| South Dakota | 27% | 734 | $5,524 | $5,717 | +3.5% |
| Tennessee | 30% | 706 | $5,993 | $6,243 | +4.2% |
| Texas | 33% | 695 | $7,211 | $7,467 | +3.5% |
| Utah | 29% | 730 | $6,271 | $6,531 | +4.2% |
| Vermont | 26% | 737 | $5,638 | $5,928 | +5.1% |
| Virginia | 28% | 723 | $7,002 | $7,200 | +2.8% |
| Washington | 26% | 735 | $6,723 | $6,975 | +3.8% |
| West Virginia | 31% | 702 | $5,348 | $5,427 | +1.5% |
| Wisconsin | 24% | 738 | $5,242 | $5,370 | +2.4% |
| Wyoming | 29% | 725 | $6,227 | $6,406 | +2.9% |
*SOURCE: Experian State of Credit Cards report
The fascinating details
Every state saw balances increase year over year. Some states, such as Hawaii, California, and Nevada, saw above-average jumps, reflecting higher living costs and heavier reliance on credit to keep up with expenses. Others, including North Dakota and West Virginia, saw only modest growth but still higher balances than a year ago.
Experian’s updated dataset also shows that utilization rates remain elevated, particularly in states with lower average credit scores. Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Alabama have some of the highest utilization ratios in the country, suggesting that residents rely more heavily on credit cards and have less room to absorb new balances without risking delinquency.
The national picture also continues to show rising strain. More consumers are carrying balances month-to-month rather than paying them off in full, which means they are now spending more on interest than in prior years. Even small increases in APR create larger long-term balances, and Experian notes that consumers are taking longer to pay down revolving debt overall.
Older versions of the report focused on total credit-card debt by state, including California’s $100-billion total in 2019 and Nevada’s sharp year-over-year spike. The new Experian data shifts away from statewide totals and instead reports average balances per consumer.
As a result, Alaska now leads the nation in average credit-card debt, while Wisconsin continues to carry the least.
What you can do
“Most Americans could benefit from focusing on paying off debt,” says Gary Herman, President of Consolidated Credit. “Reducing credit-card balances can improve your credit profile, strengthen your debt-to-income ratio, and give your budget more room to absorb unexpected expenses.”
- First, paying off credit card debt helps you save money by eliminating high interest rate debt that costs you every month you carry a balance.
- Next, if you eliminate a debt, you eliminate a bill, which frees up cash flow in your budget; that makes it easier to afford all your monthly expenses.
- As you pay off balances, you also decrease your credit utilization ratio, which is the second biggest factor used in credit scoring.
- Finally, cutting debt decreases your debt-to-income ratio. This not only makes you more financially stable, it makes you more creditworthy to lenders and creditors. That could be key if you plan on applying for new financing this year.
Herman also stresses that carrying a balance does not help your credit score.
“There’s no advantage to keeping a balance from one month to the next. It doesn’t improve your score, and it makes budgeting harder,” he says. “You’re always better off paying off your charges in full whenever possible. That way, you can use credit without paying interest.”
Need help crafting a plan to pay off credit card debt? Talk to a certified credit counselor for a free debt and budget evaluation.
