The trend for salary by age looks like a bell curve. Here is a chart showing that based on weekly and annual income:
Age Group
Weekly Income
Annual Income
16-19 years
$622
$32,344
20-24 years
$758
$39,416
25-34 years
$1,080
$56,160
35-44 years
$1,303
$67,756
45-54 years
$1,275
$66,300
55-64 years
$1,244
$64,688
65+ years
$1,055
$54,860
According to this table, salary tends to increase with age. However, that upward trend stops around 50 or 55 years old.
Average Salaries by Gender
Looking at the same BLS data set from the previous section, you can slice the data based on gender. It shows that even in the modern age, the gender pay gap remains an issue:
Age Group
Annual Income (Men)
Annual Income (Women)
Women Income as Percentage of Men Income
16-19 years
$34,268
$28,964
85%
20-24 years
$40,664
$37,700
93%
25-34 years
$58,968
$53,196
90%
35-44 years
$72,956
$60,944
84%
45-54 years
$72,852
$59,540
82%
55-64 years
$72,176
$57,252
79%
65+ years
$61,204
$48,932
80%
This chart shows that women starting out in the workforce initially make close to their male counterparts. However, as they age, they go from 90%-95% to 80%-85%.
Average Salaries by Education Level
The BLS’ most recent data on education and income shows a steady curve upward, indicating that, in general, more education leads to more income. The opposite can be said about the connection between education and employment, with unemployment being higher for workers with less education.
Here is a chart that breaks down these concepts — income and unemployment — by level of education obtained:
Education Level
Weekly Income
Annual Income
Unemployment Rate
Less than high school diploma
$682
$35,464
5.5%
High school diploma
$853
$44,356
4%
Some college, no degree
$935
$48,620
3.5%
Associate degree
$1,005
$52,260
2.7%
Bachelor’s degree
$1,432
$74,464
2.2%
Master’s degree
$1,661
$86,372
1.9%
Professional degree
$2,080
$108,160
1.4%
Doctoral degree
$2,083
$108,316
1%
Average Salaries by Job and Industry
Salaries also differ depending on the job and industry. The BLS provides a thorough breakdown of salary along these lines. Here are some of the roles mentioned in the BLS report:
After learning about average salary across a variety of factors, you may be wondering how common your wage is. Here is a breakdown of the percentage of Americans who fall into each income bracket:
Income Bracket*
Percentage of Americans
Under $15,000
8.3%
$15,000-$24,999
7.4%
$25,000-$34,999
7.6%
$35,000-$49,999
10.6%
$50,000-$74,999
16.2%
$75,000-$99,999
12.3%
$100,000-$149,999
16.4%
$150,000-$199,999
9.2%
Over $200,000
11.9%
*Based on household income, not individual income
As you can see, almost half of American households fall in the middle income brackets, making between $50,000 and $150,000.
It’s true that U.S. salaries vary by age. However, they also vary for other reasons, including job, education and industry. Employers should take all of this salary data into consideration, using it to determine fair pay based on cost of living and experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Average Salaries by Age
Research from Statista indicates that 21.1% of workers in the U.S. make over $150,000 per year.
What is the average middle class income? In 2024, a large U.S. city's middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000, with the median household income across all 345 cities at $77,345, making middle-class income limits fall between $51,558 and $154,590, SmartAsset noted.
However, new research from GOBankingRates shows that in some major U.S. cities, an annual income of $150,000 is only enough to qualify as “lower middle class.” This is especially pronounced in two Northern California cities and Arlington, Virginia.
You also need an annual household salary of at least $50,000 to be considered middle class in 17 other states, including California, New York, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Hawaii.
Well, it depends. A $40,000 salary may be sufficient for an individual in a low-cost area, but it may not be enough for a family to live comfortably in most parts of the US. Rising inflation has made it more challenging to live on a $40,000 salary, but it still exceeds the poverty threshold for families.
If you're single and have a salary of $70k, you are part of above-average earners in the U.S. Depending on where you live, you may be able to live comfortably on a $70,000 salary as a single person.
Key Findings. On average, an individual needs $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city. This includes being able to pay off debt and invest for the future.
There are no state or local income taxes, and a 12% discount on cost of living relative to the average across the U.S. mean it goes a long way. In San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Oakland, all in California, a $100,000 salary is effectively halved, in terms of what it can afford.
As of 2022 (the most recent Census data), the average median household income in the U.S. was $73,914, meaning the national range for the middle class is roughly $49,271 to $147,828. Across the nation's largest cities, the range is between $51,558 and $154,590, according to SmartAsset.
The median salary of 35- to 44-year-olds is $1,197 per week or $62,244 per year. That said, the number conceals considerable variation by gender. For example, male 35- to 44-year-olds earn a median salary of $1,299 per week, whereas women in the same age bracket earn a median of $1,086 per week.
If you make $75,000 a year, you're earning more than half of all workers in the U.S. And in fact, many people would probably consider the salary as good pay. After all, a $75,000 salary works out to around $6,250 per month, $1,442.31 per week, or $36.06 an hour.
Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range. "The upper middle class has grown...and its composition has changed.
One way some researchers divide individuals into economic classes is by looking at their incomes. From that data, they split earners into different classes: poor, lower-middle class, middle class, upper-middle class and wealthy.
With a $500,000+ income, you are considered rich, wherever you live! According to the IRS, any household who makes over $500,000 a year in 2023 is considered a top 1% income earner. Of course, some parts of the country require a higher income level to be in the top 1% income, e.g. Connecticut at $580,000.
The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $65,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 21 Using Pew's yardstick, middle income is made up of people who make between $43,350 and $130,000.
Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204
Phone: +2135150832870
Job: Regional Design Producer
Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games
Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
