Get Paid To Move: 11 States That Pay Up To $15,000
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: You can get paid to move by joining a city or state relocation incentive program, which typically pays remote workers $5,000 – $15,000 in cash plus local perks. Tulsa Remote pays $10,000, Ascend West Virginia pays $12,000, and most programs require $45,000 – $75,000 in annual income.
Below, we break down 11 states with relocation programs, what each pays, and who qualifies, so you can weigh the payout against the cost of hiring one of the best interstate moving companies.
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11 states that pay you to move there
These 11 states have city, county, or statewide programs that pay new residents in cash, perks, or both. Most target full-time remote workers, and the biggest cash offers top out at $15,000.
Here’s how the programs compare at a glance, as of October 2026:
| State | Program | Cash | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | Permanent Fund Dividend | $1,200 (2026) | Residents after 1 full year |
| AR | West Memphis | $5,000 – $10,000 | $75,000+ income |
| AR & TX | Texarkana | $5,000 | $60,000+ income |
| IL | Move to Mattoon | Perks package | Remote workers, $45,000+ income |
| IN | Muncie | $5,000 | $50,000+ income |
| IN | Terre Haute | $7,500 | $50,000+ income |
| KS | Choose Topeka | Up to $15,000 | New hires at local employers |
| KS | Lincoln County | $5,000 | $55,000+ household income |
| KY | Owensboro* | $5,000 | $60,000+ income |
| MI | Move to Michigan* | Up to $15,000 | Remote workers buying a home |
| MN | 218 Relocate | Perks only | Remote workers |
| OH | Hamilton TAP | Up to $15,000 | Grads from the past 7 years |
| OK | Tulsa Remote | $10,000 | Remote workers |
| WV | Ascend WV | $12,000 | Remote & self-employed workers |
*Owensboro is waitlisted with payouts paused, and Move to Michigan isn’t accepting new applications as of October 2026.
1. Alaska
Alaska doesn’t offer a relocation incentive, but the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) pays every eligible resident a yearly share of the state’s oil-funded investment earnings. The PFD paid $1,702 in 2024, $1,000 in 2025, and $1,200 in 2026, including a $200 energy relief payment.
The catch is timing. You have to live in Alaska for a full calendar year before you can apply, so your first check arrives well after your move.
Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)
Incentives:
- Annual payment per resident, $1,000 – $1,702 over the past three years
Requirements:
- Alaska residency for a full calendar year before applying
- Intent to remain an Alaska resident indefinitely
- No residency claims or residency-based benefits in another state
2. Arkansas
Arkansas has two active programs. West Memphis, just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, pays $10,000 to homebuyers and $5,000 to renters who bring a job with them.
Texarkana sits on the Arkansas-Texas state line, and its program covers both Miller County, Arkansas, and Bowie County, Texas. The package pairs $5,000 in cash with perks MakeMyMove values at up to $18,900, including tuition discounts at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
West Memphis & Texarkana
Incentives:
- West Memphis: $10,000 cash for homebuyers or $5,000 for renters, plus a welcome meal with the mayor
- Texarkana: $5,000 cash, a 25% tuition discount at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, local memberships & symphony tickets
Requirements:
- West Memphis: $75,000+ income, a full-time job or self-employment & a current home outside West Memphis
- Texarkana: $60,000+ income, a full-time job or self-employment & a current home outside Arkansas (or 75+ miles away in Texas)
- Both: Be 18 or older & move within six months
Learn more about the West Memphis and Texarkana incentives
Think Arkansas is the right fit? Find the best mover based on your moving route to Arkansas.
3. Illinois
Mattoon is a city of about 17,000 in east-central Illinois, roughly between Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. Move to Mattoon offers remote workers a welcome package the program values at over $10,000 per family.
The perks lean practical: a year of free co-working, six months of free fiber internet, and six months of free storage for whatever doesn’t fit in your new place.
Move to Mattoon
Incentives:
- One year of free co-working space
- Six months of free YMCA family membership
- Six months of free fiber internet & storage
Requirements:
- Live more than 100 miles from Mattoon
- Commit to living in city limits for at least two years
- Work remotely for a company (gig workers & self-employed don’t qualify)
- Earn more than $45,000 annually
Looking to put down roots in Mattoon? Find the best mover based on your moving route to Illinois.
4. Indiana
Indiana has two open programs for remote workers. Terre Haute pays the most cash, $7,500, as part of a package worth up to $10,000.
Muncie, home to Ball State University, pays $5,000 in unrestricted cash plus perks like co-working space, Ball State library access, and a six-month YMCA membership.
Terre Haute & Muncie
Incentives:
- Terre Haute: $7,500 cash in a package worth up to $10,000
- Muncie: $5,000 cash, co-working space, Ball State library access & a six-month YMCA membership
Requirements:
- Both: $50,000+ income, a current home outside Indiana & a move within six months
- Both: Be a U.S. citizen, 18 or older
- Muncie: Keep a full-time job or be self-employed
Learn more about the Terre Haute and Muncie incentives
Is Indiana calling your name? Find the best mover based on your moving route to Indiana.
5. Kansas
Choose Topeka works through local employers. Participating Shawnee County companies offer new hires up to $15,000 to buy a home or up to $10,000 to rent, and returning residents and transitioning military members can get $5,000 in cash.
Lincoln County, in rural north-central Kansas, pays $5,000 in cash and may qualify you for a 100% Kansas income tax credit through the state’s Rural Opportunity Zone program.
Choose Topeka & Lincoln County
Incentives:
- Topeka: Up to $15,000 to buy or $10,000 to rent, paid through your employer, or $5,000 cash for returning residents & military
- Lincoln County: $5,000 cash, a possible 100% state income tax credit, a year of gym access & a dozen farm-fresh eggs every month for a year
Requirements:
- Topeka: Full-time job with a participating Shawnee County employer & a home purchase or lease within a year of moving
- Lincoln County: $55,000+ household income, full-time or self-employment & a current home outside Kansas
Learn more about Choose Topeka and the Lincoln County incentives
Think Topeka or Lincoln County could be the right fit? Find the best mover based on your moving route to Kansas.
6. Kentucky
Owensboro, about two hours from Louisville on the Ohio River, offers a $5,000 stipend paid in two installments as part of a $6,800 package. The perks have a local flavor, including free banjo, fiddle, or mandolin lessons.
As of October 2026, Owensboro is waitlisted with payouts paused, so you can still apply, but expect a delay before any money arrives.
Owensboro relocation incentive
Incentives:
- $5,000 stipend paid in two installments
- Local memberships & event tickets
- Free music lessons
- Free weekly coffee & donut for a year
Requirements:
- Earn at least $60,000 annually
- Live outside Kentucky & move within six months of approval
- Be a U.S. citizen, 18 or older
Is the Bluegrass State calling your name? Find the best mover based on your moving route to Kentucky.
7. Michigan
Move to Michigan offers remote workers a forgivable grant of up to $15,000 toward a home in Southwest Michigan, a lakeshore region within driving distance of Chicago. Buyers also choose from over $5,000 in first-year perks.
The program isn’t accepting new applications as of October 2026, but you can sign up on its site to hear when it reopens.
Move to Michigan (Southwest Michigan)
Incentives:
- Up to $15,000 forgivable grant toward a new home
- Over $5,000 in first-year perks
Requirements:
- Full-time remote work for a company outside Southwest Michigan
- Buy or build a home costing at least $200,000 in an eligible ZIP code
- Not a current Michigan resident
Does Michigan seem like the right fit? Find the best mover based on your moving route to Michigan.
8. Minnesota
218 Relocate pays in perks instead of cash. Remote workers who move to Bemidji, a lake town in northern Minnesota, get a year of co-working space worth $1,500, six months of gigabit internet, and a one-year chamber of commerce membership.
The internet perk requires a one-year contract with Paul Bunyan Communications, so factor that bill into your budget.
218 Relocate
Incentives:
- One year of co-working space
- Six months of free gigabit internet
- One-year Bemidji Area Chamber membership & community concierge help
Requirements:
- Full-time remote work for a company based outside the region
- Move from at least 60 miles away & live full-time in Bemidji
- Use Paul Bunyan Communications internet
If Bemidji caught your eye, find the best mover based on your moving route to Minnesota.
9. Ohio
Hamilton, north of Cincinnati in Butler County, pays recent college grads up to $15,000 toward student loans through the Hamilton Community Foundation’s Talent Attraction Program (TAP). The foundation reviews applications on a rolling basis.
Payments stop if you leave your job or move out of the eligible neighborhood, so plan to stay put.
Hamilton Talent Attraction Program (TAP)
Incentives:
- Up to $15,000 toward student loans
Requirements:
- Graduated within the past seven years (STEAM degrees preferred)
- Move to an eligible Hamilton neighborhood from outside it
- Work in Butler County or hold a full-time professional remote job
Want to make the Buckeye State home? Find the best mover based on your moving route to Ohio.
10. Oklahoma
Tulsa Remote is one of the best-known programs that pays you to move. It pays remote workers $10,000, starting with $2,500 when you relocate, then $500 a month for a year and $1,500 at completion.
Homebuyers can take the money as a lump sum instead, and every participant gets three years of free co-working space.
Tulsa Remote
Incentives:
- $10,000 cash, paid in installments or as a lump sum for homebuyers
- Three years of free co-working space
- Community events & wellness perks
Requirements:
- Full-time remote job outside Oklahoma
- Live outside Oklahoma for a full year before applying
- Be 18 or older & eligible to work in the U.S.
- Move within 12 months of approval
Is Tulsa right up your alley? Find the best mover based on your moving route to Oklahoma.
11. West Virginia
Ascend West Virginia pays the most cash of any open statewide program on this list: $12,000 over two years, paid monthly or as a lump sum if you buy a qualifying home. Free outdoor gear rentals and a welcome trip add more than $2,500 in value.
Applications are open on a rolling basis for remote workers moving to Morgantown, Greater Elkins, the Greenbrier Valley, the Eastern Panhandle, or the New River Gorge.
Ascend West Virginia
Incentives:
- $12,000 cash over two years
- Free co-working space
- Free outdoor gear rentals & a welcome trip
Requirements:
- Full-time remote job with an out-of-state business or self-employment
- Live outside West Virginia & move within six months of acceptance
- Be a U.S. citizen or green card holder, 18 or older
Ready to pack your bags for West Virginia? Find the best mover based on your moving route to West Virginia.
Why plan your move with moveBuddha:
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
How to apply for a program that pays you to move
Most programs take applications online, and many run through MakeMyMove, a relocation marketplace that cities use as their application portal. Follow these steps to apply and protect your payout:
- Confirm the program is open. Check the official site for a “recruiting” or “applications open” status, since programs like Move to Michigan and Remote Shoals in Alabama have closed.
- Match the requirements. Most programs require a full-time job you keep after moving, a minimum income of $45,000 – $75,000, and a current home outside the state.
- Price your move first. The moving cost calculator weighs distance, home size, move date, and service level together, so you can see how much of the move a $5,000 stipend actually covers.
- Lock in movers before your deadline. Many programs give you six months to move, and the moveBuddha Mover Marketplace gets you up to five no-obligation quotes from one request, matched to movers’ real-time availability.
- Keep your paperwork. Save your lease or closing documents, pay stubs, and moving receipts, since programs ask for proof before they release payments.
Pro tip: moveBuddha’s pricing tools use 1,000+ live price points collected every month, so check your quote against a current benchmark before you book, and read our guide to binding vs. non-binding estimates to keep the final bill from growing.
Why do states pay you to move?
States and cities pay you to move because each new remote worker brings an outside paycheck that gets spent locally. Most of the programs above target remote employees for exactly that reason:
- Boost local economies: A remote worker earning $50,000 or more spends money at local shops and restaurants without competing for a local job.
- Revitalize small towns: Rural places like Lincoln County, Kansas, use cash and tax credits to reverse population loss.
- Attract skilled professionals: Programs like Hamilton’s TAP target recent college grads to fill local talent gaps.
- Build long-term residents: Installment payments and minimum-stay rules, like Mattoon’s two-year commitment, reward people who stay.
If you’d rather relocate for a new job, it’s worth learning how to negotiate a relocation package with your employer. If you’re open to leaving the U.S., there are also countries that will pay you to move there.
Many relocation incentives pay out in installments after you arrive, so plan to cover your upfront moving costs yourself.
Learn MoreFAQs
What state pays you $10,000 to move there?
Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Arkansas all have programs that pay $10,000 or more to move there. Tulsa Remote pays $10,000, Ascend West Virginia pays $12,000, and West Memphis, Arkansas, pays $10,000 to homebuyers. Each one requires you to bring a job with you, so check the income and work rules before you apply.
Are relocation incentives taxable?
Yes, relocation incentives are generally taxable income. Tulsa Remote issues a 1099 tax form for its $10,000 payment, and Ascend West Virginia says recipients owe any taxes on their award. Set aside part of each payment for taxes, and see IRS Publication 15-B if an employer is paying for your move instead.
Do you have to pay back relocation incentives if you leave early?
Repayment rules vary by program, but many relocation incentives pay in installments that stop if you leave early. Tulsa Remote spreads its $10,000 over about a year, and Ascend West Virginia spreads $12,000 over two years. Read each program’s terms for minimum-stay rules, like Mattoon’s two-year commitment, before you sign.
Can I get paid to move if I already live in the state?
You usually can’t get paid to move within your own state, since most programs require you to live elsewhere when you apply. Muncie requires applicants to live outside Indiana, and Tulsa Remote requires a full year outside Oklahoma. A few programs use a distance rule instead, like Mattoon’s 100-mile minimum.
Who usually gets the best relocation deals?
Remote workers and homebuyers usually get the best relocation deals. West Memphis pays homebuyers $10,000 versus $5,000 for renters, and Choose Topeka offers up to $15,000 to buy versus $10,000 to rent. Recent college grads can also earn up to $15,000 in student loan help through Hamilton, Ohio’s TAP program.
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