How Much Does the Average American Make?
Want to find out how your salary stacks up to the average US income? As the cost of living goes up and the national salary continues to evolve in a changing economy, it can be difficult to keep up and earn enough to make a comfortable living. Here’s your guide to the average income in the US.
How Much Does the Average American Make?
The median weekly personal income for a full-time American worker was approximately $1,037 per week for the first quarter of 2022. Men achieved a median income of $1,128 per week, while women were earning weekly incomes of $939. This makes the average American salary by week 4.9% higher in 2022 than in 2021.
(BLS)
Additional Stats About the Average American Salary
The average American salary can vary drastically based on factors like gender, background, and location. Let’s explore some of the most valuable statistics about American wages.
The median household income was $67,521 in 2020.
According to the latest available data, the median household income for 2020 was $67,521, representing a decrease of 2.9% from 2019.
(Census Gov)
Women’s median weekly earnings are 16,8% lower than men’s.
When looking at the average American salary by gender in 2022, we discover women earn about 83.2% of men’s median salary across all states. The numbers vary by race and ethnicity, however, with black women earning 93.2% as much as men, and Asian women earning 85.2% as much as men.
(BLS)
The District of Columbia offers the highest income by state.
To further understand the American worker’s salary, it’s worth taking a closer look at the average income by state. The District of Columbia currently has the highest wages in the USA, at an average of $88,702 per year. On the other hand, the lowest average income state is Mississippi at only $41,776. Overall, the mean salary by state was $65,712 per year.
(World Population Review)
Washington, D.C. also boasts the highest per capita income in the US.
If you’re looking for the highest-earning demographic in the US, it’s worth starting your search in the national capital. The District of Columbia has the highest yearly PCI in the country as of 2022, at $84,538. Connecticut follows closely behind at $79,087. The state with the lowest per capita income is Mississippi, at $39,368.
(World Population Review)
In 2022, the average hourly wage for a US employee was $11.03.
Examining the average American salary after taxes, Statista reveals the hourly earnings of all employees in the US was around $11.03. Notably, this is a significant drop from the average wage in April 2021, which was $11.32.
(Statista)
Wages are higher for men aged 35 and older.
The amount you can earn in America is also significantly influenced by your age. According to the BLS, the average American salary by age is highest for men aged over 35, with median weekly earnings of $1,257. For women, the highest earnings are reserved for workers between the age of 35 and 64, with a weekly average earning of $1,037. Men and women between the ages of 16 and 24 had the lowest weekly income.
(BLS)
52% of Americans are middle class.
About half of all US adults live in middle-income households, while 29% belong to lower-class households, and 19% are part of upper-class income households. The middle-class income range is between $30,000 and $90,000 per year.
(Pew Research Center)
Anesthesiologists earn the highest average salary by profession.
As of 2022, the highest mean average salary belongs to anesthesiologists, who earn around $331,190 per year, followed by oral surgeons at $311,460 per year. Alternatively, the yearly income on a minimum wage in the US would provide around $15,080 for a full-time employee. Only around 1.3 million households (or 1%) of Americans earn more than $500,000 per year.
(BLS, Center for Poverty Research)
To Sum Up
Hopefully, we’ve shed some light on the significant discrepancies in the earning potential of US citizens. Everything from where you live, to your gender and age, can influence what you make.
