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 2025, median weekly wages for workers in the US was $1,194, 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 a monthly income of $5,174, or $62,088 per year. That’s a 4.8% increase over the first quarter of 2024 when median weekly wages were $1,139.3
Even though prices on so many things feel high lately, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a popular inflation measure, has grown by just 2.7% from early 2024 to early 2025.4 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 $1,307 per week or $67,964 per year.5 By comparison, women earn a median wage of $1,096 per week, or $56,992 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 97% of what Black men earn, Hispanic women earn 89% as much as their male counterparts, white women earn 82% as much, and Asian women earn 80% 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: $648 per week ($33,696 per year)
- 20 to 24: $792 per week ($41,184 per year)
- 25 to 34: $1,125 per week ($58,500 per year)
- 35 to 44: $1,332 per week ($69,264 per year)
- 45 to 54: $1,376 per week ($71,552 per year)
- 55 to 64: $1,302 per week ($67,704 per year)
- 65 and older: $1,222 per week ($63,544 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: $743 per week ($38,636 per year)
- High school graduates: $953 per week ($49,556 per year)
- Some college (including associate degree): $1,096 per week ($56,992 per year)
- Bachelor’s degree: $1,603 per week ($83,356 per year)
- Advanced degree: $1,961 per week ($101,972 per year)9
So median annual earnings for those with a bachelor’s degree are more than $33,800 (or more than 68%) 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 median pay for each US state and Washington, DC, as of September 2024, according to BLS data.10
| State | Median weekly wages | Median annual wages |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,172 | $60,994 |
| Alaska | $1,382 | $71,864 |
| Arizona | $1,317 | $68,484 |
| Arkansas | $1,094 | $56,888 |
| California | $1,694 | $88,088 |
| Colorado | $1,486 | $77,272 |
| Connecticut | $1,545 | $80,340 |
| Delaware | $1,330 | $69,160 |
| Florida | $1,276 | $66,352 |
| Georgia | $1,304 | $67,808 |
| Hawaii | $1,299 | $67,548 |
| Idaho | $1,126 | $58,552 |
| Illinois | $1,398 | $72,696 |
| Indiana | $1,165 | $60,580 |
| Iowa | $1,154 | $60,008 |
| Kansas | $1,137 | $59,124 |
| Kentucky | $1,129 | $58,708 |
| Louisiana | $1,151 | $59,852 |
| Maine | $1,176 | $61,152 |
| Maryland | $1,471 | $76,492 |
| Massachusetts | $1,736 | $90,272 |
| Michigan | $1,266 | $65,832 |
| Minnesota | $1,389 | $72,228 |
| Mississippi | $960 | $49,920 |
| Missouri | $1,197 | $62,244 |
| Montana | $1,125 | $58,500 |
| Nebraska | $1,155 | $60,060 |
| Nevada | $1,260 | $65,520 |
| New Hampshire | $1,404 | $73,008 |
| New Jersey | $1,503 | $78,156 |
| New Mexico | $1,155 | $60,060 |
| New York | $1,684 | $87,568 |
| North Carolina | $1,275 | $66,300 |
| North Dakota | $1,257 | $65,364 |
| Ohio | $1,237 | $64,324 |
| Oklahoma | $1,095 | $56,940 |
| Oregon | $1,353 | $70,356 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,330 | $69,160 |
| Rhode Island | $1,263 | $65,676 |
| South Carolina | $1,142 | $59,384 |
| South Dakota | $1,102 | $57,304 |
| Tennessee | $1,256 | $65,312 |
| Texas | $1,396 | $72,592 |
| Utah | $1,248 | $64,896 |
| Vermont | $1,191 | $61,932 |
| Virginia | $1,444 | $75,088 |
| Washington | $1,781 | $92,612 |
| Washington, DC | $2,290 | $119,080 |
| West Virginia | $1,085 | $56,420 |
| Wisconsin | $1,175 | $61,100 |
| Wyoming | $1,183 | $61,516 |
Workers in Washington, DC, had the highest median salary, coming in at $2,290 per week (or $119,080 per year). Meanwhile, workers in Mississippi saw the lowest median pay, at $960 per week (or $49,920 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.