Familiar with the concept 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 2026, the median weekly wage for full-time US workers was $1,235, according to data collected as part of the Current Population Survey and reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).2 That translates to roughly $5,352 per month or $64,220 per year. That was 3.4% higher than a year earlier, when the median weekly wage was $1,194.3
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a popular inflation measure, grew by just 2.7% between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.4 This means that for American workers with median salaries, wage growth continued to outpace inflation over 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 earned a median wage of $1,362 per week, compared with $1,098 per week for women—meaning women earned close to 20% less than men.5
With race and ethnicity factored in, the pay disparity between the sexes changes a bit. On average, Black women earned 94% of what Black men earn, Hispanic women earn 86% as much as their male counterparts, white women earn 80% as much, and Asian women earn 79% as much.6
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: $603 per week ($31,356 per year)
- 20 to 24: $810 per week ($42,120 per year)
- 25 to 34: $1,140 per week ($59,280 per year)
- 35 to 44: $1,384 per week ($71,968 per year)
- 45 to 54: $1,435 per week ($74,620 per year)
- 55 to 64: $1,348 per week ($70,096 per year)
- 65 and older: $1,246 per week ($64,792 per year)7
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 2034 than roles for workers with less education.
Here's a breakdown of the median salary for US workers by educational attainment.
- Less than a high school diploma: $784 per week ($40,768 per year)
- High school graduates: $977 per week ($50,804 per year)
- Some college (including associate degree): $1,138 per week ($59,176 per year)
- Bachelor’s degree: $1,609 per week ($83,668 per year)
- Advanced degree: $1,982 per week ($103,064 per year)8
So median annual earnings for those with a bachelor’s degree are more than $32,850 (or about 65%) higher than those who didn’t receive any higher education.
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 average pay for each US state and Washington, DC, as of December 2025, according to BLS data.9
| State | Average weekly wages | Average annual wages |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,301 | $67,652 |
| Alaska | $1,497 | $77,844 |
| Arizona | $1,446 | $75,192 |
| Arkansas | $1,213 | $63,076 |
| California | $1,954 | $101,608 |
| Colorado | $1,683 | $87,516 |
| Connecticut | $1,801 | $93,652 |
| Delaware | $1,502 | $78,104 |
| Florida | $1,471 | $76,492 |
| Georgia | $1,440 | $74,880 |
| Hawaii | $1,411 | $73,372 |
| Idaho | $1,303 | $67,756 |
| Illinois | $1,588 | $82,576 |
| Indiana | $1,276 | $66,352 |
| Iowa | $1,282 | $66,664 |
| Kansas | $1,268 | $65,936 |
| Kentucky | $1,235 | $64,220 |
| Louisiana | $1,267 | $65,884 |
| Maine | $1,332 | $69,264 |
| Maryland | $1,616 | $84,032 |
| Massachusetts | $1,980 | $102,960 |
| Michigan | $1,427 | $74,204 |
| Minnesota | $1,505 | $78,260 |
| Mississippi | $1,075 | $55,900 |
| Missouri | $1,324 | $68,848 |
| Montana | $1,296 | $67,392 |
| Nebraska | $1,275 | $66,300 |
| Nevada | $1,395 | $72,540 |
| New Hampshire | $1,652 | $85,904 |
| New Jersey | $1,691 | $87,932 |
| New Mexico | $1,275 | $66,300 |
| New York | $1,975 | $102,700 |
| North Carolina | $1,409 | $73,268 |
| North Dakota | $1,350 | $70,200 |
| Ohio | $1,358 | $70,616 |
| Oklahoma | $1,217 | $63,284 |
| Oregon | $1,468 | $76,336 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,470 | $76,440 |
| Rhode Island | $1,429 | $74,308 |
| South Carolina | $1,276 | $66,352 |
| South Dakota | $1,230 | $63,960 |
| Tennessee | $1,424 | $74,048 |
| Texas | $1,549 | $80,548 |
| Utah | $1,389 | $72,228 |
| Vermont | $1,378 | $71,656 |
| Virginia | $1,585 | $82,420 |
| Washington | $1,948 | $101,296 |
| Washington, DC | $2,587 | $134,524 |
| West Virginia | $1,203 | $62,556 |
| Wisconsin | $1,346 | $69,992 |
| Wyoming | $1,297 | $67,444 |
Workers in Washington, DC, had the highest average salary, coming in at $2,587 per week (or $134,524 per year). Meanwhile, workers in Mississippi saw the lowest average pay, at $1,075 per week (or $55,900 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.