"The Median U.S. Salary is Probably Not What You Think"

[TheParish]

https://www.capitalone.com/learn-gro...the-us-by-age/

"The vast majority of Americans know exactly how much money they make every year, almost down to the dollar. However, there are very few people that they share that number with. Because “talking about money” is so taboo, it’s hard to know what coworkers or even friends make every year.

Therefore, most people have no idea what the average US salary actually is. Every year, the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics notes the annual income of each and every American; however, because there are thousands of Americans making millions or even billions of dollars every year, the “average” number is often quite misleading.

Luckily Capital One has collected the necessary data and organized it to find the true median salary in each age group. And they are definitely not what you think! Here are the median annual salaries for full-time workers and salary workers in the United States:

16-19: $31,356
20-24: $37,024
25-34: $54,184
35-44: $63,908
45-54: $64,116
55-64: $61,672
65 and older: $57,252

Although these figures are certainly helpful when attempting to understand where your salary sits as compared to the majority of the population, there are other factors to consider. Gender, ethnicity, industry, and location all affect the “average” American salary.

The first is gender: American women make 16% less than men, so while the median American male makes $61,620 per year, the average woman only makes $52.052. Next, the average salary changes quite drastically depending on one’s ethnicity or race. While the median salary for an Asian-American is $75,348 per year, for White Americans, that number drops to $58,552, for Black Americans, $47,476, and within the Hispanic or Latino population, the average is only $4,252.

Additionally, the industry in which a person is employed greatly affects the average salary. Lawyers and other members of the legal profession made the most on average at $124,540; jobs within the tech, software, or coding industries were second with an average of $108,130; healthcare professionals came in third at $96,770. On the other hand, jobs in food service and preparation came in last with an average salary of only $32,130.

It’s important to understand that knowing the average American salary and its deciding factors can help in several ways. For some, it may help them decide where to live and what industry they’d like to work in. While for others, this data could be extremely helpful when negotiating salary or a raise.

So while you may never be able to ask your coworker or friend what they make every year, at least now you know what the true median salary is for Americans. Who knows, it may change your life."

[DrewDarden]

They forgot to poll the Misc, which would have brought the national average up by an entire digit.

[SaviorSelfJT]

> jobs within the tech, software, or coding industries were second with an average of $108,130

I have a real hard time believing this

[Thebigzub]

Pfffff....$64K.....more than that dribbles down my chin at the bar every weekend...

[headturner1]

Seems so strange to me living in the pnw. If you’re not making 100k a year, you’re not going to have a good time here.

[DrewDarden]

Seems so strange to me living in the pnw. If you’re not making 100k a year, you’re not going to have a good time here.

It didn't say they were having a good time. It just displays the average.

[SaviorSelfJT]

It didn't say they were having a good time. It just displays the average.

When it comes to income stats median and average are a good ways apart cause top income earners moving the scales

I'll also say I'm highly suspect of these stats

[DrugsToGetBig]

yes the average american is a 40k-50k a year pleb


it over

[Adam16121]

If we create more money, everyone will have more money. Problem solved.

[tripod29]

These amounts have to include high school dropouts, mentally retarded folks, etc. Anyone who graduated from uni with a solid degree, literally has a zero percent chance of not making six figures coming out of school. That total only builds the older you. 60k for someone in their 30??.... Get tf outta here with that bs.



Srs, vry srs.

[DesiredUserphag]

Feels good to be more than double the average without a college degree (dfs) ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyLMAO

[SaviorSelfJT]

Just my personal life experiences

Virtually all small business owners are cheating their taxes by under reporting their income. Construction workers and tradies are often paid under the table and don't report all their income. And on the white collar side I cannot believe that the median tech coder job pays only 108k. New CS graduates were making more than that even before all the inflation a few years ago

I think these stats are complete bull

[87dman]

I have seen similar stats in other places. They never asked me what I made when compiling these stats.

Honestly I think the 'average' isn't as grand as people think as it's common to inflate your numbers for appearance sake.

[Madscient1st]

These amounts have to include high school dropouts, mentally retarded folks, etc. Anyone who graduated from uni with a solid degree, literally has a zero percent chance of not making six figures coming out of school. That total only builds the older you. 60k for someone in their 30??.... Get tf outta here with that bs.



Srs, vry srs.

Interesting. Electrical engineers at the utility I work for are not making six figures coming straight out of school. In fact, the only engineers making over 100k are the upper level engineers who have put their time in. In the PNW

[SaviorSelfJT]

Interesting. Electrical engineers at the utility I work for are not making six figures coming straight out of school. In fact, the only engineers making over 100k are the upper level engineers who have put their time in. In the PNW

Actual/real engineers have been shafted hard the last decade or two

They likely have student loan debt too. Gotta be a hard realization that

As of Apr 2, 2024, the average annual pay for a Fast Food Manager in Seattle is $62,744 a year.

After student loans are accounted for, they are hardly better off

[SaltyDog920]

Thank god I'm part of the misc where all our salaries are 10k/day, penis size 8"+ and our heights average 6'4".

[HokieBrah]

that's exactly what I thought

[blissful88]

Calling BS on the account that 1/3rd of America doesn't even work anymore

I'm literally about to go drive & I guarantee you it will take me 40 minutes to go 5 miles because of how many people are out driving/shopping instead of working jobs




For 3 years every single business I look at has hiring signs up

[Madscient1st]

Calling BS on the account that 1/3rd of America doesn't even work anymore

I'm literally about to go drive & I guarantee you it will take me 40 minutes to go 5 miles because of how many people are out driving/shopping instead of working jobs




For 3 years every single business I look at has hiring signs up

Maybe 1/3 of America is under working age. 1/3 of America is working age. 1/3 of America is over working age?

[pojo18]

These amounts have to include high school dropouts, mentally retarded folks, etc. Anyone who graduated from uni with a solid degree, literally has a zero percent chance of not making six figures coming out of school. That total only builds the older you. 60k for someone in their 30??.... Get tf outta here with that bs.



Srs, vry srs.

I literally don't know anyone who makes or made $100k+ base right out of college. Maybe this happens in California or NY?

My little brother graduated college in 2022 and his first job as a chemical engineer paid $88k.

My girlfriend is a nurse (BSN) and her first year out of college in 2021 her salary was $75k.

My father graduated law school in 1980 at age 25 and his first firm paid him $22,500/year which inflation adjusted is like ~85k today.

[stevebec]

I literally don't know anyone who makes or made $100k+ base right out of college. Maybe this happens in California or NY?

My little brother graduated college in 2022 and his first job as a chemical engineer paid $88k.

My girlfriend is a nurse (BSN) and her first year out of college in 2021 her salary was $75k.

My father graduated law school in 1980 at age 25 and his first firm paid him $22,500/year which inflation adjusted is like ~85k today.

Started as a systems/software engineer in 1995 and make $42K which works out to the same.

[BigGuyTruth]

How do people even survive of that? No way everyone is this poor here

[TheParish]

Calling BS on the account that 1/3rd of America doesn't even work anymore

I'm literally about to go drive & I guarantee you it will take me 40 minutes to go 5 miles because of how many people are out driving/shopping instead of working jobs




For 3 years every single business I look at has hiring signs up

Agreed

[LuigiMiami631]

I call absolute BS. They forgot to include my stats where I more than make up for the USA combined.

I bring a little over 5 mill every second.

Enough to support every person on this planet for a day.

And yes I agree with Bliss. The amount of people out and about during work times is staggering.

I seen a wannabe gangster with is gay ass flat brimed dunce cap and wife beater driving an Audi Avant 2024 edition.

My only assumption is, he launders money or deals drugs. No other explanation for a low IQ'er like that to be making that type of cash.

Either that or he is on the government cheese where he took out a 10 year loan at whatever APR and making 1000+ payments.

[Channel83]

A wise man once told me 'it's lower than you think'

[BitchslapLibs]

Sounds about right. Not everyone is in tech, you know...

[Kawhilights]

Thank god I'm part of the misc where all our salaries are 10k/day, penis size 8"+ and our heights average 6'4".

I got some bad news baby girl.

Misc averages are 20k/day, 8” but only flaccid and if submerged in ice water, at least 16” erect, and min 7’3” tall

[SillieBazzillie]

But wait, all tradies make $150k+ while spending their day inhaling big bites, skoal, monster, and buying scratchies when they're not banging officecells wives.

Wait a minute, something isn't adding up...

[headturner1]

It didn't say they were having a good time. It just displays the average.

Thanks for that son.

Let me state it more clearly, if someone is making the “average” they’re fukced.

Also, you sound poor Jfl

[headturner1]

Interesting. Electrical engineers at the utility I work for are not making six figures coming straight out of school. In fact, the only engineers making over 100k are the upper level engineers who have put their time in. In the PNW

That surprises me. Considering entry level local govt “engineers” typically start around 90k (and these are civil, not EE).