Everyone wants to know how their pay compares, and “what is the average salary in the US?” is the natural place to start. But the average can be misleading — a small number of very high earners pulls it upward, so it often overstates what a typical person actually makes. This guide explains the real picture: the difference between average and median salary, why the median is the number you should use, and how pay varies by age, state, education, and other factors so you can compare yourself to the right benchmark, not just a headline figure.
The average (or mean) US salary is calculated by adding up everyone’s pay and dividing by the number of workers. That sounds fair, but it has a flaw: incomes are skewed. A relatively small group of very high earners pulls the average up, so the “average” ends up higher than what most people earn. That is why economists and this guide lean on the median — the exact middle, where half of workers earn more and half earn less. The median is the honest answer to “what does a typical American make?”
As a rule of thumb, the US median salary for individual full-time workers sits roughly around $60,000, with the average a bit higher because of that upward skew. But a single national number hides enormous variation by age, location, education, industry, and more. Below, we unpack both figures and the factors that move them, so you can find the benchmark that actually applies to you.
Convert any salary to annual and after-tax terms with our Annual Salary Calculator and Take-Home Pay Calculator, then see whether yours is a good salary for your situation.
What this guide covers
Average vs median salary
The two words are often used interchangeably, but they measure different things — and the gap between them tells a story about inequality.
| Average (mean) | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s found | Sum of all salaries ÷ number of people | The middle value when all are lined up |
| Affected by top earners? | Yes — pulled upward | No — stays at the middle |
| Represents a typical worker? | Less well | Better |
| Usually the higher number? | Yes | No |
Because salaries are skewed by a minority of very high incomes, the average sits above the median. When someone quotes a big “average salary” figure, the median is usually the more grounded number to compare yourself against.
Why the median is the better benchmark
Imagine a room of ten people where nine earn $50,000 and one earns $5 million. The average salary in that room is about $545,000 — a figure that describes nobody in it. The median, however, is $50,000, which describes almost everyone. Real income distributions are milder than that example but skewed in the same direction.
This is exactly why the median is the honest measure of a typical salary. It resists distortion from outliers and reflects the true middle of the workforce. When you are deciding whether your pay is competitive or judging what a good salary looks like, the median for your role, age, and area is the number to use — a theme we build on in what is a good salary and what salary is middle class.
The national numbers
At the national level, the individual full-time median salary in the US sits roughly around $60,000, with the mean running higher because of top earners. Household figures are higher still, since many households have more than one earner.
| Measure | Approximate US figure | |
|---|---|---|
| Median individual (full-time) | Roughly $60,000 | |
| Average individual (full-time) | Higher — low-to-mid $60,000s+ | |
| Median household | Higher — often $70,000–$80,000+ |
Treat these as broad reference points that shift each year with inflation and the economy — always check the current figures from official sources. The key takeaway is the relationship: median below mean, and household above individual.
How salary varies by age
Pay is not flat across a career — it follows a curve. Earnings tend to climb as experience builds, peak in mid-career, and level off later.
20s
Entry-level pay, below the overall median as careers get started.
30s–40s
Rising steadily as experience and responsibility grow — around or above median.
50s
Often the peak earning years, then a plateau toward retirement.
This is why comparing yourself to the overall national number can mislead. A 25-year-old below the national median is completely normal; a 50-year-old at the same figure has more room to grow. Compare within your age band for a fair read.
How salary varies by state
Where you live changes both what you earn and what that pay is worth. High-cost states with dense high-paying industries post higher average salaries; lower-cost states post lower ones — but the lower figure often stretches further.
| State type | Salary pattern |
|---|---|
| High-cost coastal / tech hubs | Higher average salaries, but higher living costs offset them |
| Large metros generally | Above-average pay concentrated in cities |
| Lower-cost states | Lower average salaries that often buy more |
Because of this, a raw salary comparison across states is incomplete without adjusting for cost of living and state tax. Our guide on estimating salary after taxes shows how state tax alone reshapes the comparison, and our Illinois salary guides work through one state in detail.
How salary varies by education
Education level is one of the strongest predictors of pay. On average, more education correlates with higher median earnings, though the picture varies widely by field and is not a guarantee.
High school diploma. Median earnings below the overall national median.
Some college / associate. A step up from high-school-only earnings.
Bachelor’s degree. Median earnings meaningfully above the overall median.
Advanced degrees. Typically the highest median earnings, though field matters enormously.
Other factors that move the number
Beyond age, state, and education, several other factors shape where a salary lands relative to the average.
Industry
Tech, finance, and healthcare tend to pay above average; hospitality and retail below.
Occupation
Specific roles have their own medians — often the most useful benchmark of all.
Experience
Years in a field and demonstrated results push pay up within any role.
Gender and other gaps
Persistent pay gaps mean averages differ across groups for similar work.
How to compare yourself the right way
To judge your own pay meaningfully, narrow the benchmark from “the country” to “people like me in my situation.”
Start with the median so a few top earners do not distort your reference point.
Find the median for your exact occupation and seniority, not just the national figure.
Compare to your state and metro, and factor in cost of living and state tax.
Look at take-home pay to judge real spending power against your costs.
Do this and you will know whether your salary is genuinely competitive. If it is behind, the fastest fix is negotiation — see the anchor guide on how to negotiate salary.
Mistakes to avoid
Using the average as typical
The mean overstates typical pay. Use the median instead.
Comparing to the country only
Narrow to your role, age, and area for a fair comparison.
Ignoring cost of living
A high average in an expensive state may buy less. Adjust for costs.
Judging by gross
Compare after-tax take-home for real spending power.
Using stale figures
Medians shift each year. Check current official data.
Confusing individual and household
Household figures are higher because of multiple earners.
Read what a good salary is, what salary is middle class, and what a six figure salary is; use the Annual Salary Calculator; browse the salary blog; explore all finance calculators; or visit the Waldev homepage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in the US?
The average full-time salary in the US is roughly in the $60,000s per year, while the median is a bit lower, generally around $60,000 for individual full-time workers. The average is pulled up by very high earners, so the median is usually the more representative figure.
What is the difference between average and median salary?
The average (mean) adds all salaries and divides by the number of people, so it is pulled higher by top earners. The median is the middle value where half earn more and half earn less. Because pay is skewed toward a few very high incomes, the median is usually more representative of a typical worker.
Why is median salary better than average?
Median salary is better for judging a typical income because it is not distorted by extremely high earners. A handful of very large salaries can pull the average up well above what most people actually make, while the median stays at the true middle.
Does the average salary vary by state?
Yes, significantly. States with high costs of living and concentrations of high-paying industries tend to have higher average salaries, while lower-cost states have lower averages. Comparing to your own state and metro is more meaningful than the national number.
How does age affect average salary?
Earnings typically rise from your twenties, peak in your forties and fifties as experience accumulates, and can level off or decline near retirement. So average salary by age forms a curve rather than a flat line, and comparing within your age band is more useful.
Is the average US salary before or after tax?
Average and median salary figures are gross, before-tax numbers. Your take-home pay is lower after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state tax, so compare after-tax figures when judging real spending power.
The quick version
The average US salary is pulled upward by a minority of very high earners, so it overstates what a typical worker makes. Use the median instead — the true middle, roughly around $60,000 for individual full-time workers, with household figures higher. But the national number hides big variation: pay rises and peaks with age, differs sharply by state and cost of living, climbs with education, and varies by industry and occupation. To judge your own salary, compare to the median for your role, age, and area, adjust for cost of living and tax, and look at after-tax take-home rather than the gross figure.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not financial advice. Salary figures change over time and vary by source and methodology. Use current official data for precise comparisons.
The BLS publishes median weekly and annual earnings by occupation, age, and demographic group.
The Census Bureau reports median household and individual income for the nation and by state.