Knowing the median salary is important for choosing a job and location and can help ensure pay equity. These data can be further detailed to provide insights into median wages by gender, race, and more. Below are some key government estimates regarding median wages in the United States.
Median Salary Information for Workers in the United States
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median wage for workers in the United States in the second quarter of 2022 was about $1,041 per week or $54,132 per year (assuming 52 weeks of work in a year). Wages were up 5.2% compared to the previous year.
Note: These figures are based on median estimates from the government. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as occupation and location. Using the median estimate reduces the effect of outlier statistics.
What is considered a good salary in one job or metropolitan area may not be so in another. For example, the highest wages were for workers in professional and managerial occupations. In these jobs, men earned a median annual salary of $90,636, while women earned a median annual salary of $65,780. However, in service jobs, men earned a median annual salary of $40,196, while women earned a median annual salary of $34,112.
Jobs in large cities with higher living costs usually pay higher wages than jobs in rural and suburban areas.
Note: There are a variety of calculators you can use to find the average salary for a job in your professional field and area of interest. Additionally, you can use a cost of living calculator to determine how much it costs to live in a specific location.
Median Salary by State
The Bureau of Labor Statistics divides salary data by state. Below are the median wages for states as of May 2021 (assuming 52 weeks of 40 hours of work per week).
Median Salary for Men and Women in the United States
BLS reports that men earned a median annual salary of $59,488 in the second quarter of 2022, while women earned a median annual salary of $49,036, which is 82.4% of men’s wages.
Median Salary by Race
Race and ethnicity also play a role in wages for men and women. For example, white women earned 82.3% of the wages of their male counterparts, while Black women earned 88.1%, Asian women earned 79%, and Hispanic women earned 85.7%.
However, Black men earned a median annual salary of $49,556, which is only 82.1% of what white men earn ($55,536). The gap was somewhat smaller for women; Black women’s average annual wages were 87.9% ($43,680) of white women’s wages ($49,712).
BLS also provides information on Hispanic and Asian wage earners, who earned median annual salaries of $42,224 and $69,472, respectively.
Median Salary by Age
Salaries also vary by age. For example, men aged 35 to 44 had the highest median annual salary ($69,264). Women earned the highest annual wages between the ages of 45 and 54 ($54,652).
Median Salary by Education
BLS data reveals that completing more education pays off (at least statistically). Workers aged 25 and older without a high school diploma had a median annual salary of $35,828 in the second quarter of 2022 compared to $43,576 for high school diploma holders without a college degree. University graduates with at least a bachelor’s degree earned a median annual salary of $80,444.
Median Salary
Median by Occupation
The BLS divides salary information by profession. This can help you choose a job that meets your financial needs. These median annual figures are based on weekly wage information from the second quarter of 2022 (assuming a person works 52 weeks a year).
Note: You can use the cost of living calculator to find out how much it costs to live in a specific location.
- Management, professional, and related occupations: $75,868
- Service occupations: $36,764
- Sales and office occupations: $45,084
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations: $50,128
- Production, transportation, and material moving occupations: $41,964
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Sources:
– Bureau of Labor Statistics. “May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.”
– Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers,” Pages 1-2, 8.
– Indeed Hiring Lab. “Where Salaries Go Furthest in 2019: The Small-City Advantage.”
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/average-salary-information-for-us-workers-2060808
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