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Average Salary in United States 2024

How much money does a person working in United States make?


Average Yearly Salary
95,100 USD
( 7,920 USD monthly)

LOW
24,000
USD
AVERAGE
95,100
USD
HIGH
423,000
USD
All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

A person working in United States typically earns around 95,100 USD. Salaries range from 24,000 USD (lowest average) to 423,000 USD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in United States vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.



Pay Scale and Salaries in United States

Median and salary distribution United States yearly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
182,000 USD or more
10% of people earn
142,000 to 182,000 USD
20% of people earn
55,300 USD or less
65% of people earn
55,300 to 142,000 USD
Minimum Salary
24,000 USD
Median
83,600 USD
Maximum
423,000 USD




Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in United States range from 24,000 USD (starting salary) to 423,000 USD (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.

  • Median Salary

    The median salary is 83,600 USD, which means that 50% of the population in United States earns less than that while the other half earns more. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population in United States earn less than 60,300 USD while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 127,000 USD while 25% earn more than that.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights into how salaries are actually distributed in United States. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 55,300 USD to 142,000 USD. Approximately 20% fall under the 55,300 USD cap. Ten percent of wages are from 142,000 USD to 182,000 USD. Only 5% of people grossed 182,000 USD or more.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.

In United States, employees with two to five years of experience typically earn an average of 32% more than entry-level and junior workers in all industries and fields.

Individuals with more than five years of experience tend to earn an average of 36% more than those with less than five years of experience.

After ten years of work, salaries increase by 21%, with an additional 14% increase for those who have worked for over 15 years.

These figures should be used as rough estimates, as considering individual job titles can lead to more accurate assessments.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

The correlation between higher education and higher salary is widely acknowledged, but how much of an income increase can one expect from obtaining a degree?

We conducted a study in United States comparing the salaries of professionals with different levels of college degrees who held similar positions in various industries.

Our results showed that individuals with a certificate or diploma earned an average of 17% more than those who only completed high school.

Those who obtained a Bachelor's Degree earned 24% more than their counterparts with a certificate or diploma.

Professionals with a Master's Degree earned 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, those who held a PhD earned an average of 23% more than those with a Master's Degree while performing the same job.


Is investing in a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Is pursuing higher education worth the investment?

Earning a Master's degree or any post-graduate qualification in United States is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 39,600 USD to 119,000 USD and a duration of around two years. It's important to note that during this period, any salary increases are unlikely, assuming ongoing employment. Salary reviews are typically conducted after completing the program and obtaining the degree.

Many individuals pursue advanced education as a means of transitioning to higher-paying positions, and the statistics indicate that this is an effective strategy. On average, individuals who change jobs after earning a higher degree receive a salary increase of about 10% more than the typical annual raise.

Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue advanced education depends on a variety of factors, including the personal situation and experience. However, if one can afford the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree, the return on investment is likely to be worthwhile, with the ability to recoup the costs in approximately a year.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / United States

Salary comparison by gender United States yearly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 6% across all career fields.

Male
97,900 USD
Female-6%
92,400 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value


Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in United States

How much are annual salary increments in United States? How often do employees get salary raises?

United States

Employees in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 16 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate United States
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in United States is 6%.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.



Bonus and Incentive Rates in United States

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate United States
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47% of surveyed staff in United States reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 53% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
53%
No Bonus
47%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Goal-Based Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.


Bonus Rates Comparison by Career Field

Finance
High
Architecture
High
Sales
High
Business Development
High
Marketing / Advertising
High
Information Technology
Moderate
Healthcare
Moderate
Insurance
Moderate
Customer Service
Moderate
Human Resources
Moderate
Construction
Low
Transport
Low
Hospitality
Low

What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting Cast

Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business.

Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations.

Example:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.

Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant65,700 USD
Accounting Assistant52,900 USD
Accounting Manager141,000 USD
Bookkeeper43,400 USD
Chartered Accountant90,400 USD
Corporate Treasurer128,000 USD
Financial Analyst126,000 USD
Financial Manager181,000 USD
Internal Auditor92,000 USD

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant51,800 USD
Office Manager83,900 USD
Receptionist45,700 USD
Secretary44,100 USD

Advertising / Graphic Design / Events
Art Director92,000 USD
Creative Director92,300 USD
Graphic Designer61,500 USD
Photographer51,900 USD

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer128,000 USD
Air Traffic Controller103,000 USD
Flight Attendant67,900 USD
Pilot161,000 USD

Architecture
Architect120,000 USD
CAD Drafter47,000 USD

Automotive
Mechanic36,400 USD
Service Advisor64,200 USD

Banking
Bank Branch Manager166,000 USD
Teller36,100 USD

Bilingual
Teacher74,400 USD
Translator90,400 USD

Business Planning
Business Analyst125,000 USD
Business Development Manager147,000 USD
Project Manager124,000 USD

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny40,300 USD
Nursery Teacher34,500 USD

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer88,700 USD
Construction Project Manager163,000 USD
Health and Safety Officer43,600 USD

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative35,900 USD
Customer Service Manager124,000 USD
Customer Service Representative35,600 USD

Engineering
Civil Engineer85,600 USD
Electrical Engineer90,000 USD
Engineer91,700 USD
Mechanical Engineer86,500 USD

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer218,000 USD
Chief Financial Officer194,000 USD
General Manager161,000 USD
Project Manager108,000 USD

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef57,400 USD
Executive Chef70,400 USD
Hotel Manager172,000 USD
Receptionist34,800 USD
Travel Agent61,300 USD
Waiter / Waitress31,500 USD

Health and Medical
Dentist238,000 USD
Dietitian182,000 USD
Laboratory Technician68,700 USD
Nurse77,500 USD

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager148,000 USD
Human Resources Officer60,200 USD

Information Technology
Computer Technician71,100 USD
Database Administrator97,400 USD
Developer / Programmer89,600 USD
Information Technology Manager163,000 USD
Network Engineer83,200 USD

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer55,600 USD

Legal
Attorney192,000 USD
Legal Assistant48,200 USD

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist110,000 USD

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer83,900 USD
Pharmacist128,000 USD

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier34,200 USD
Sales Manager165,000 USD
Sales Representative64,000 USD

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher65,900 USD
Secondary School Teacher77,800 USD

Average Hourly Wage in United States


46 USD per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) for all employees in United States is 46 USD.This is the rate that the average individual gets paid for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for a person in United States is 12 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Atlanta96,000 USD
Austin111,000 USD
Baltimore97,500 USD
Boston104,000 USD
Bristol80,600 USD
Chicago110,000 USD
Cincinnati81,400 USD
Cleveland84,100 USD
Dallas113,000 USD
Denver103,000 USD
Detroit104,000 USD
Honolulu80,300 USD
Houston118,000 USD
Indianapolis101,000 USD
Iowa City78,500 USD
Jacksonville109,000 USD
Kansas City92,700 USD
Kent79,400 USD
Las Vegas96,900 USD
Long Beach91,500 USD
Los Angeles115,000 USD
Memphis101,000 USD
Miami93,100 USD
Minneapolis84,600 USD
New Orleans88,500 USD
New York122,000 USD
Oakland89,600 USD
Oklahoma City95,400 USD
Orlando85,400 USD
Philadelphia112,000 USD
Phoenix110,000 USD
Sacramento94,300 USD
San Antonio115,000 USD
San Diego109,000 USD
San Francisco105,000 USD
San Jose108,000 USD
Seattle100,000 USD
Tampa88,200 USD
Vancouver79,900 USD
Washington D.C.104,000 USD

Salary Comparison By State

StateAverage Salary
Alabama102,000 USD
Alaska89,000 USD
Arizona106,000 USD
Arkansas98,100 USD
California112,000 USD
Colorado101,000 USD
Connecticut98,400 USD
Delaware91,500 USD
District of Columbia89,600 USD
Florida112,000 USD
Georgia110,000 USD
Hawaii93,900 USD
Idaho93,900 USD
Illinois111,000 USD
Indiana106,000 USD
Iowa98,200 USD
Kansas98,300 USD
Kentucky101,000 USD
Louisiana102,000 USD
Maine93,600 USD
Maryland106,000 USD
Massachusetts106,000 USD
Michigan110,000 USD
Minnesota104,000 USD
Mississippi98,100 USD
Missouri105,000 USD
Montana93,200 USD
Nebraska96,300 USD
Nevada98,500 USD
New Hampshire94,500 USD
New Jersey110,000 USD
New Mexico97,700 USD
New York114,000 USD
North Carolina101,000 USD
North Dakota82,200 USD
Ohio102,000 USD
Oklahoma92,600 USD
Oregon92,700 USD
Pennsylvania103,000 USD
Rhode Island84,500 USD
South Carolina94,800 USD
South Dakota84,700 USD
Tennessee98,700 USD
Texas105,000 USD
Utah89,600 USD
Vermont83,200 USD
Virginia101,000 USD
Washington100,000 USD
West Virginia89,000 USD
Wisconsin97,600 USD
Wyoming82,700 USD

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
92,800 USD
Public Sector+5%
97,500 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in United States?

It is extremely difficult to give an exact figure of a good salary when no specific job is selected, however; an estimate can be provided based purely on the cost of living. A good compensation in United States would range anywhere between 83,600 USD and 127,000 USD.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary in United States ranges from 24,000 USD to 60,300 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including profession, experience, and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary


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