Heard of salary transparency? It’s used to encourage more open conversations about what companies are paying their workers. Knowing about the average salary in the US could shed light on whether you’re being underpaid. It could also help you make more informed choices as you apply for new jobs or ask for a raise. Just know that earnings vary depending on age, sex, location, and education, among other factors. Here’s how much the average American makes.
Average salary in the US
In the first quarter of 2024, median weekly wages for workers in the US was $1,139, according to BLS.2 That translates to a monthly income of $4,935, or $59,228 per year. That’s a 3.5% increase over the first quarter of 2023 when median weekly wages were $1,100.3
Even though prices on so many things feel high lately, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a popular inflation measure, has grown by just 3.2% from early 2023 to early 2024.4 This means that for American workers with median salaries, wage growth outpaced inflation during this time.
Note: Throughout this article, we reference median, not average, wages. The BLS tracks median earnings because these tend to better represent the typical American's earnings. Especially high or low earnings can easily skew averages, but because medians are the exact middle of a data set, outliers are less likely to affect them.
Average US salary by sex
In the BLS’ survey sample of 60,000 US households, men earn a median wage of $1,227 per week or $63,804 per year.5 By comparison, women earn a median wage of $1,021 per week, or $53,092 per year—almost 20% less than men.6
With race and ethnicity factored in, the pay disparity between the sexes changes a bit. On average, Black women earn 95% of what Black men earn, Hispanic women earn 90% as much as their male counterparts, white women earn 83% as much, and Asian women earn 79% as much.7
Average US salary by age
Age tends to be one of the most influential factors on how much a worker gets paid, with earnings peaking between 45 and 54 years of age:
- 16 to 19: $619 per week ($32,188 per year)
- 20 to 24: $757 per week ($39,364 per year)
- 25 to 34: $1,056 per week ($54,912 per year)
- 35 to 44: $1,233 per week ($64,116 per year)
- 45 to 54: $1,303 per week ($67,756 per year)
- 55 to 64: $1,254 per week ($65,208 per year)
- 65 and older: $1,175 per week ($61,100 per year)8
Pay tends to be lowest for teenagers and young adults, who are likely to be working part-time jobs while attending high school or college. Average pay then increases as workers age, until they hit age 55. That’s when average earnings dip as more people enter retirement.
Average US salary by education level
As you might expect, education can also have a big impact on how much money a person earns. BLS data shows that more education generally means more earning potential. This is largely because, historically, having more degrees unlocks more job opportunities—and higher-paying ones. And it’s expected that the number of roles in jobs requiring bachelor’s degrees will grow faster through 2032 than roles for workers with less education.
Here's what the median salary for US workers looks like by educational attainment.
- Less than a high school diploma: $718 per week ($37,336 per year)
- High school graduates: $901 per week ($46,852 per year)
- Some college (including associate degree): $1,027 per week ($53,404 per year)
- Bachelor’s degree: $1,551 per week ($80,652 per year)
- Advanced degree: $1,899 per week ($98,748)9
So median annual earnings for those with a bachelor’s degree are more than $30,000 (or more than 70%) higher than those who didn’t receive any higher education. And that earnings gap seems to be getting wider, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Average US salary by state
Where you live is another significant influencer on how much you earn. Because of differences in the job market and cost of living, median pay varies state by state.
Here’s a breakdown of median pay for each US state and Washington, DC, as of September 2023, according to BLS data.10
| State | Median weekly wages | Median annual wages |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,121 | $58,292 |
| Alaska | $1,328 | $69,056 |
| Arizona | $1,248 | $64,896 |
| Arkansas | $1,036 | $53,872 |
| California | $1,613 | $83,876 |
| Colorado | $1,431 | $74,412 |
| Connecticut | $1,480 | $76,960 |
| Delaware | $1,269 | $65,988 |
| Florida | $1,218 | $63,336 |
| Georgia | $1,249 | $64,948 |
| Hawaii | $1,226 | $63,752 |
| Idaho | $1,068 | $55,536 |
| Illinois | $1,346 | $69,992 |
| Indiana | $1,115 | $57,980 |
| Iowa | $1,112 | $57,824 |
| Kansas | $1,087 | $56,524 |
| Kentucky | $1,092 | $56,784 |
| Louisiana | $1,107 | $57,564 |
| Maine | $1,129 | $58,708 |
| Maryland | $1,424 | $74,048 |
| Massachusetts | $1,643 | $85,436 |
| Michigan | $1,228 | $63,856 |
| Minnesota | $1,329 | $69,108 |
| Mississippi | $927 | $48,204 |
| Missouri | $1,152 | $59,904 |
| Montana | $1,072 | $55,744 |
| Nebraska | $1,111 | $57,772 |
| Nevada | $1,201 | $62,452 |
| New Hampshire | $1,350 | $70,200 |
| New Jersey | $1,456 | $75,712 |
| New Mexico | $1,096 | $56,992 |
| New York | $1,610 | $83,720 |
| North Carolina | $1,222 | $63,544 |
| North Dakota | $1,205 | $62,660 |
| Ohio | $1,185 | $61,620 |
| Oklahoma | $1,052 | $54,704 |
| Oregon | $1,301 | $67,652 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,283 | $66,716 |
| Rhode Island | $1,234 | $64,168 |
| South Carolina | $1,086 | $56,472 |
| South Dakota | $1,058 | $55,016 |
| Tennessee | $1,199 | $62,348 |
| Texas | $1,336 | $69,472 |
| Utah | $1,195 | $62,140 |
| Vermont | $1,141 | $59,332 |
| Virginia | $1,383 | $71,916 |
| Washington | $1,682 | $87,464 |
| Washington, DC | $2,159 | $112,268 |
| West Virginia | $1,044 | $54,288 |
| Wisconsin | $1,133 | $58,916 |
| Wyoming | $1,111 | $57,772 |
Workers in Washington, DC, had the highest median salary, coming in at $2,159 per week (or $112,268 per year). Meanwhile, workers in Mississippi saw the lowest median pay, at $927 per week (or $48,204 per year).
There isn’t just one “average” salary
Given how many variables affect Americans’ income—including age, sex, location, and level of education—one key caveat is clear: The average salary in the US isn’t the best reflection of all workers’ earnings. Factor in specific occupations, and the data gets even more complicated. If you’re curious how your income stacks up, consider comparing yourself to the segment of the population you belong to.