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Salary Data 2026

Median Salary by Age (2026) — Full Income Benchmarks

How does your salary compare to others your age? Full median and mean annual wage data by age group for the US in 2026, including percentile ranges and industry breakdowns.

Last updated: January 2026· Source: BLS Current Population Survey, Q3 2024
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Marcus Webb

Compensation Research Analyst

Marcus has 8+ years of experience in compensation analysis and tax research. He covers salary benchmarks, payroll tax policy, and compensation strategy across all US states.

Last updated: April 2026
Reviewed for 2026 tax rates

Key Finding

Peak median earnings occur at age 45–54 at $62,868/year. Workers with a professional degree earn 3–4× more than those with only a high school diploma by this age group.

Where Do You Stand?

Enter your age and salary to see how you compare to workers your age nationally.

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Median Salary by Age Group — Full Table

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Age 16–19
$34,944
25th: $21,000Mean: $29,80075th: $40,000
Age 20–24
$37,752
25th: $28,000Mean: $38,50075th: $49,000
Age 25–34
$54,288
25th: $40,000Mean: $60,20075th: $78,000
Age 35–44
$62,036
25th: $48,000Mean: $73,80075th: $96,000
Age 45–54
$62,868
25th: $50,000Mean: $78,20075th: $104,000
Age 55–64
$59,904
25th: $44,000Mean: $76,40075th: $98,000
Age 65+
$50,128
25th: $32,000Mean: $65,80075th: $82,000
Age GroupMedian AnnualMean Annual
Age 16–19$34,944$29,800
Age 20–24$37,752$38,500
Age 25–34$54,288$60,200
Age 35–44$62,036$73,800
Age 45–54$62,868$78,200
Age 55–64$59,904$76,400
Age 65+$50,128$65,800

Source: BLS Current Population Survey (CPS), Earnings of Full-Time Wage and Salary Workers, Q3 2024. Annual figures derived from median weekly earnings × 52. Percentile ranges estimated from distribution data.

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Salary Growth Trajectory by Education Level

Estimated median salary by age group and education. Higher education compounds over time.

High School Diploma

$28,000
16
$32,000
20
$40,000
25
$44,000
35
$45,000
45
$42,000
55
$36,000
65+

Associate's Degree

$32,000
16
$37,000
20
$46,000
25
$51,000
35
$52,000
45
$48,000
55
$42,000
65+

Bachelor's Degree

$40,000
16
$48,000
20
$62,000
25
$72,000
35
$75,000
45
$70,000
55
$58,000
65+

Master's Degree

$48,000
16
$57,000
20
$74,000
25
$86,000
35
$90,000
45
$84,000
55
$70,000
65+

Doctoral / Professional

$55,000
16
$72,000
20
$98,000
25
$125,000
35
$130,000
45
$118,000
55
$98,000
65+

Hover over bars to see salary values. Age groups: 16, 20, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65+.

Gender Wage Gap by Age Group

The wage gap is smallest early in careers and widens significantly with age. Data reflects median weekly earnings × 52 weeks.

Age 20–243.5% gap

Men (median)

$40,300

Women (median)

$38,900

Age 25–349.9% gap

Men (median)

$57,800

Women (median)

$52,100

Age 35–4419.7% gap

Men (median)

$69,200

Women (median)

$55,600

Age 45–5424.6% gap

Men (median)

$73,100

Women (median)

$55,100

Age 55–6427.3% gap

Men (median)

$71,400

Women (median)

$51,900

Source: BLS Current Population Survey, median weekly earnings by sex and age, 2024.

People Also Ask

At what age do people typically earn the most?▼
Peak median earnings occur in the 45–54 age group, at approximately $62,868 annually ($1,209/week). However, mean earnings (which include high earners) peak even later. This reflects decades of career advancement, seniority, and accumulated expertise. High earners in management and specialized fields continue growing past 54.
How much should I be making at 30?▼
Workers in the 25–34 age group earn a median of $54,288/year nationally. If you earn above this, you're ahead of the median for your age. However, by 30 you should realistically target above median given average career progression. The top 25% of workers aged 25-34 earn $78,000+.
Why do salaries peak in the 45-54 range?▼
Salary peaks in the 45-54 range because this is when most workers have accumulated enough experience to hold senior roles, benefit from seniority-based raises, and have built specialized expertise. Management positions, which pay significantly more, are disproportionately held by workers in this age range. After 55, some high earners shift to part-time or retire early, pulling the median down.
Does education significantly affect earnings by age?▼
Education has a compounding effect on earnings over time. Workers with a bachelor's degree start higher but grow much faster than those with a high school diploma — the gap widens each decade. By age 45-54, bachelor's degree holders earn a median ~$75,000 vs ~$45,000 for high school diploma holders — a $30,000 annual difference that compounds over a career.
What is the gender wage gap by age?▼
The gender wage gap is smallest in younger workers (3.5% at ages 20-24) and widens significantly with age. By ages 45-54, women earn approximately 75 cents for every dollar men earn — a 24.6% gap. Research attributes this largely to career interruptions for caregiving, industry/occupation differences, and discrimination. The gap is largest in professional and managerial roles.

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