Social Security payments really show some wild differences depending on where you live. While you might think it’s just wealth or jobs that make the numbers change, it’s also about where older folks actually spend their retirement. States like California, New York, and Illinois are losing retirees, which drags the average down. Meanwhile, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and the Carolinas keep attracting retirees, often emptying their check books, and that raises the average in their favor. So when more well-off retirees leave, their money really does sink average payments in the states they leave behind. That’s how migration shakes up the numbers.
Getting your check really centers on two things: how big your paycheck was over your working days, and when you decide you want the money to start coming in. The key term is primary insurance amount, or PIA, which is the benefit you’d get if you were to sign up exactly when the program says you should. That’s usually when people are between 66 and 67, depending on the year they were born. The math behind that checks out, but where it actually lands checks is pretty different.
If you choose to start your Social Security benefits at age 62, your monthly payment will be roughly 30% smaller than if you wait for your full retirement age, or FRA. On your FRA, you receive the full monthly benefit. If you hold off even longer—up to age 70—your benefit bumps up 8% for each full year you delay. Every month you wait earns you an extra 2/3 of 1%, so the longer you hold out, the bigger the paycheck.
As of July 2025, the average check for retirees is $2,006.69. That is $1.64 higher than when the average was $2,005.05 just two months earlier.
Which States Pay the Most and the Least?
More than one-third of retirees on Social Security live in five large states: California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania. Their combined retirement population takes up 33% of the national total.
For bigger checks, look at the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Connecticut leads with an average check of $2,196.15, New Jersey is nearly neck-and-neck at $2,190.05, and New Hampshire is just a tad lower at $2,183.82. Delaware and Maryland finish the top five, each topping $2,100 on average.
Switching gears, the averages coming out of Southern states aren’t exactly encouraging. Mississippi is sitting dead last at just $1,814.24. Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Kentucky aren’t much better, all averaging checks that stay under $1,900. Pretty clear that, in these states, the numbers rarely crack the $1,900 a month mark.
These differences paint a sharper picture than the numbers suggest. Areas that hosted higher-paying jobs during workers’ lifetimes and states that tend to attract wealthier retirees usually see larger checks. In contrast, places that lose those retirees lag behind when the averages are totaled up.
So, what does that mean for you?
Whether you’re making plans to retire next week or next decade, the size of the Social Security check around you may be a clue to how big averages are. Just keep in mind that averages are a snapshot and your specific monthly benefit is based on your own record of earnings, the timing of when you file, and how long you worked.
Have you kicked around the idea of waiting to file? Pushing your start date to full retirement age or later can really boost your monthly check. It’s a good idea to slot that choice into your retirement game plan—one size does not fit all.
As new retirees sign those moving-day lease papers and the economy keeps changing, the average Social Security check in each region is also shifting. Watching how those averages swing can give new retirees—maybe you—an edge, nudging you toward which neighborhood really makes sense and how to shape those benefit details. Stay aware, keep asking, and you’re more likely to hit the move that keeps more money in your pocket for that favorite bakery stop.
How Much Is the Average Social Security Check by Age? Updated Guide for 2025