Average salary in the US by state, age & gender

Have you ever questioned whether you’re budgeting the right amount for next year’s payroll?

How about if you’re offering truly competitive salaries to employees or distributing labor costs effectively?

What is the average annual salary in the US, anyway?

If salary benchmarks seem opaque or if your employees’ compensation is due for a review, you’re in the right place. For small business owners, getting salaries right is crucial for employee retention.

In this article, we’ll cover the average salary in the US by state, age, gender, and occupation.

We’ll also explore how salaries are changing over time so you can plan for the future of your business.

By the end, you’ll have a clear sense of salary trends and the factors that affect them, so you can make the right call when planning salary increases or setting compensation for new employees.

Here’s what we’ll cover

Key insights

• In 2024 Q3, full-time workers earn median* weekly wages of $1,165. This figure increased slightly from 2024 Q2 when the median weekly wage was $1,151.
• As of Q3, women earn a median of $1,054 per week. Men have a median weekly wage of $1,264.
• Men aged 55 to 64 earn the most overall, with median weekly earnings of $1,490. For women, the highest earning age bracket is 45 to 54, with median weekly wages of $1,166.
• People working in management, professional, and related occupations earn the most overall. Men in these roles have median weekly wages of $1,884, and women earn $1,392 per week.

Average salary in US

The average yearly salary in the US is $65,470, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This figure represents the average wage regardless of location, occupation, gender, and other factors.

The National Average Wage Index, which the Social Security Administration uses to monitor wage growth, reflects similar findings.

The national average wage index for 2023 is $66,621.

This figure has increased steadily from year to year.

In fact, 2023 data reflects 4.43% growth compared to 2022.

Whether you own a lean startup or employ a large staff, it’s important to pay attention to average wage growth.

To stay competitive in your space, you’ll want to consider increasing salaries at a rate that matches or exceeds these average growth figures.

Average US salary by state

The average salary in the US differs significantly from state to state.

Location plays a major role in hourly and weekly earnings.

Average hourly salary by state

Overall, the District of Columbia has the highest average hourly wage ($51.66), while Mississippi has the lowest hourly wage ($27.12).

On average, Mississippi residents earn 51.7% as much as DC residents make per hour.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

States and districts with the highest average hourly wages include:

• District of Columbia: $51.66
• Massachusetts: $41.92
• Washington: $41.42
• California: $40.09
• Colorado: $38.64

States with the lowest average hourly wage include:

• Mississippi: $27.12
• New Mexico: $28.49
• Arkansas: $29.03
• West Virginia: $29.15
• Kentucky: $29.15

Average hourly salary adjusted for cost of living

Hourly earnings only tell part of the story. In states with lower costs of living, wages go much further.

However, the same salary doesn't cover as many expenses in states with higher costs of living.

When adjusted for cost of living*, the District of Columbia still has the highest average hourly salary in the US. But with the cost of living adjustment, the capital's average wage is just $45.02 per hour.

With this adjustment, Mississippi still has the lowest average hourly wage.

But instead of the actual average of $27.12, the state's average hourly salary equals $30.56 with the cost of living adjustment.

(*Calculated using the BLS report for actual hourly wages and the Bureau of Economic Analysis real personal consumption expenditures and income data.)

Source: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

States and districts with the highest average hourly wages adjusted for cost of living include:

• District of Columbia: $45.02
• Minnesota: $38.87
• North Dakota: $38.16
• Massachusetts: $37.98
• Colorado: $37.75

States with the lowest average hourly wages adjusted for cost of living include:

• Mississippi: $30.56
• New Mexico: $31.06
• Maine: $31.80
• Louisiana: $32.00
• Nevada: $32.10

Average weekly salary by state

The number of hours worked per week isn't necessarily consistent from state to state.

DC has the highest number of average weekly hours (36.6), while Delaware has the lowest (32.2).

This translates to vastly different weekly wages across the US. Average weekly earnings range from $1,890.76 in DC to $941.06 in Mississippi.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

While location is just one factor that affects average salaries, it's an important one for business owners who employ staff in various states.

You'll likely want to consider this data if you're considering expanding your business to another state.

For example, say your company is headquartered in a state with low average earnings and you're planning to open a satellite office in a state with high average earnings.

You'll need to budget accordingly for payroll.

If your business employs remote workers, you'll likely need to make similar considerations.

After all, you'll want to make sure you're compensating employees appropriately, given their location and title.

Plus, this location-focused data can help confirm if you're paying competitive wages.

A competitive salary can help retain employees, which can benefit the business in the long run.

Here’s the full list of salary data (including cost of living adjustments) by state:

State	Average Hourly Earnings 2024	Average Weekly Hours 2024	Hourly Wage Adjusted for Cost of Living
Alabama	$30.32	35.0	$34.03
Alaska	$37.17	34.7	$36.43
Arizona	$33.89	35.5	$33.92
Arkansas	$29.03	35.3	$32.92
California	$40.09	34.2	$35.09
Colorado	$38.64	33.8	$37.75
Connecticut	$38.21	34.0	$35.76
Delaware	$31.91	32.5	$32.56
District of Columbia	$51.66	36.6	$45.02
Florida	$32.95	34.3	$32.24
Georgia	$32.81	34.6	$34.18
Hawaii	$37.00	33.5	$32.99
Idaho	$31.90	34.8	$34.51
Illinois	$34.22	33.7	$33.79
Indiana	$31.00	34.1	$33.54
Iowa	$29.84	34.3	$33.29
Kansas	$31.12	33.9	$34.24
Kentucky	$29.15	35.2	$32.25
Louisiana	$29.24	35.9	$32.00
Maine	$31.97	33.7	$31.70
Maryland	$35.52	33.6	$33.76
Massachusetts	$41.92	33.8	$37.98
Michigan	$32.65	34.3	$34.80
Minnesota	$38.00	33.3	$38.87
Mississippi	$27.12	34.7	$30.56
Missouri	$32.10	34.0	$34.95
Montana	$32.14	33.1	$35.27
Nebraska	$31.61	33.8	$34.83
Nevada	$30.98	34.6	$32.10
New Hampshire	$35.53	33.5	$32.81
New Jersey	$37.14	33.8	$33.89
New Mexico	$28.49	33.8	$31.06
New York	$38.15	33.1	$35.25
North Carolina	$33.06	34.4	$34.98
North Dakota	$34.27	35.8	$38.16
Ohio	$32.47	34.5	$35.25
Oklahoma	$30.56	35.5	$33.99
Oregon	$36.34	35.1	$33.95
Pennsylvania	$32.07	34.3	$33.28
Rhode Island	$36.20	33.5	$34.50
South Carolina	$31.19	33.9	$33.20
South Dakota	$31.16	33.9	$34.90
Tennessee	$30.34	34.9	$32.83
Texas	$33.25	36.2	$34.08
Utah	$34.42	33.9	$36.32
Vermont	$34.11	34.0	$33.74
Virginia	$34.22	34.6	$33.49
Washington	$41.42	34.8	$37.34
West Virginia	$29.15	35.1	$32.29
Wisconsin	$33.77	33.2	$36.37
Wyoming	$31.60	35.6	$34.16

Average weekly salary by sector

Across all industries and occupations, the average weekly salary in the US is $1,266. However, wages vary significantly by sector.

The management, business, and financial operations sector has the highest median weekly earnings ($1,743), while the professional sector has the second highest weekly wages ($1,503).

The farming, fishing, and forestry sectors have the lowest median weekly earnings ($727), while the services sector garners the second lowest weekly wages ($772).

The difference between the highest-earning and lowest-earning sectors is stark.

Management, business, and financial workers earn 139.75% more than those in farming, fishing, and forestry jobs.

This data is essential if you need a ballpark idea of wages for your industry.

It can help you estimate what you'll need to spend as you hire the first employees for your business or take steps to expand your team.

Occupation	Median Weekly Earnings
Management, business, and financial operations occupations	$1,743
Professional and related occupations	$1,503
Service occupations	$772
Sales and related occupations	$1,017
Office and administrative support occupations	$925
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	$727
Construction and extraction occupations	$1,020
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	$1,207
Production occupations	$935
Transportation and material moving occupations	$867

Highest paid professions

Among all occupations in the US, physicians earn the highest median annual wage ($236,600).

Other roles in the medical field, such as nurse anesthetists ($212,650) and dentists ($170,910), also rank near the top of the list.

Executive and manager roles, such as chief executives ($212,650), computer and information systems managers ($169,510), and architectural and engineering managers ($165,730), also earn comparatively high wages.

However, the difference between the first and tenth highest-paid professions is significant.

On average, physicians earn 66.88% more than marketing and sales managers.

Profession	Median Hourly Wage	Median Annual Wage
Physicians	$113.46	$236,600
Nurse Anesthetists	$102.24	$212,650
Chief Executives	$102.24	$212,650
Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers	n/a	$171,210
Dentists	$82.17	$170,910
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$81.50	$169,510
Architectural and Engineering Managers	$79.50	$165,730
Financial Managers	$75.05	$156,100
Lawyers	$68.48	$142,440
Marketing and Sales Managers	$68.17	$141,780

Lowest paid professions

Hosts, hostesses, and baristas have the lowest median annual wage, earning just $29,220.

Service workers like fast food workers ($29,540), cashiers ($29,740), and ushers and ticket takers ($29,780) also earn some of the lowest median incomes in the US.

Unlike the highest-paid professions, there isn't a significant difference between earnings among the first and tenth lowest-paid professions.

The hosts, hostesses, and baristas earn 91.48% of the salary of waiters and waitresses.

Profession	Median Hourly Wage	Median Annual Wage
Hosts, Hostesses, and Baristas	$14.05	$29,220
Fast Food Workers	$14.20	$29,540
Cashiers	$14.30	$29,740
Ushers and Ticket Takers	$14.32	$29,780
Childcare Workers	$14.60	$30,370
Hotel Desk Clerks	$14.80	$30,790
Dishwashers	$15.00	$31,200
Animal Caretakers	$15.00	$31,200
Bartenders	$15.15	$31,510
Waiters and Waitresses	$15.36	$31,940

Most common professions

In the US, the most common profession by far is laborers and material movers, with a total of 6,935,980 workers.

The next most common profession, home health and personal care aides has 46.81% fewer workers (3,689,350).

Profession	Number of Workers	Median Hourly Wage	Median Annual Wage
Laborers and Material Movers	6,935,980	$17.65	$36,720
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	3,689,350	$16.12	$33,530
Retail Salespersons	3,684,740	$16.19	$33,680
Fast Food and Counter Workers	3,676,580	$14.20	$29,540
Drivers and Truck Drivers	3,511,470	$23.14	$48,120
General and Operations Managers	3,507,810	$48,69	$101,280
Cashiers	3,319,210	$14.30	$29,740
Registered Nurses	3,175,390	$41.38	$86,070
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	3,171,290	$22.12	$46,010
Building Cleaning Workers		$16.63	$34,600

Average weekly salary by age

Age also plays an important role in earnings.

The average professional is in the workforce for decades before reaching their earnings peak, which gradually declines prior to retirement.

Highest and lowest age brackets for earning potential

The peak earning age is 45-54 with an average annual salary of $69,628 and a median weekly wage of $1,339.

This can be attributed to the experience you gain and the career progress you make toward better paid jobs.

The 35 to 44 and 55 to 64 age brackets aren't far behind.

The younger bracket has a median weekly salary of $1,301, while the older bracket earns a median weekly wage of $1,268.

That rise in average earnings persists into retirement, where it does dip from the peak, but it’s reassuring to see that experience is rewarded and that aging is not detrimental to earning potential.

Unsurprisingly, the age brackets with the lowest earning potential are 16 to 19 and 20 to 24.

The median weekly wage for the former is $746, while the latter earns $778 per week.

The difference between the highest and lowest brackets is significant.

On average, workers aged 16 to 19 make 55.71% of the salary that workers aged 45 to 54 earn.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Age	Median Weekly Earnings	Median Annual Earnings
16-19	$746	$38,792
20-24	$778	$40,456
25-34	$1,107	$57,564
35-44	$1,301	$67,652
45-54	$1,339	$69,628
55-64	$1,268	$65,936
65 and over	$1,121	$58,292

Average salary by gender

Across the US, men made a median annual salary of $66,790 in 2023. In comparison, women earned $55,240.

Gender pay gap

Median earnings for both men and women have increased relatively steadily for decades. However, they haven't always increased at the same rate.

In fact, in recent years, men's salaries have increased at twice the rate of women's.

From 2022 to 2023, men's earnings increased by 3%, while women's increased by only 1.5%.

Historically, however, women's earnings have increased faster.

Also known as the gender pay gap, the female-to-male earnings ratio in 1960 was 60.7%.

In 2023, the ratio was 83%. While the gender pay gap has remained relatively static for the past five years, it's gradually approaching parity.

As a business owner, it's important to understand your obligations surrounding pay equality.

In some cases, you may need to document fair pay practices or report payroll data.

If fair pay is integral to your business values, it's worth auditing your current situation and considering how to address any remaining pay gaps.

For example, you might evaluate your hiring practices and compensation structure as well as the total business impact of adjusting salaries.

Gender pay gap by state

Women and men both earn the highest median salaries in the District of Columbia with men earning a median salary of $81,197, and women earning $70,095.

DoC also has the lowest pay gap across all states, most likely due to government salaries helping to close the gap.

Behind the capital, the next lowest pay gap is 18.3% in Vermont varying across the US up to a considerable 42.3% in Utah with the highest pay gap.

Source: United States Census Bureau

The states where there is a lower gender pay gap are:

• District of Columbia: 13.6%
• Vermont: 18.3%
• Nevada: 21.3%
• Maryland: 21.9%
• Hawaii: 22.5%

States with the highest difference between men and women are:

• Utah: 42.3%
• Wyoming: 40.5%
• Louisiana: 36.9%
• Idaho: 36.3%
• Alabama: 34.0%

Here’s the full list of state-by-state differences:

State	Female Median Earnings - Annual	Male Median Earnings - Annual	Percent Difference
Alabama	$29,874	$45,272	34.0
Alaska	$40,165	$53,311	24.6
Arizona	$35,599	$45,963	22.5
Arkansas	$30,687	$41,445	25.9
California	$37,927	$51,028	25.6
Colorado	$39,279	$54,888	28.4
Connecticut	$41,426	$57,388	27.8
Delaware	$37,382	$49,396	24.3
District of Columbia	$70,095	$81,197	13.6
Florida	$33,256	$42,944	22.5
Georgia	$34,421	$46,369	25.7
Hawaii	$39,182	$50,585	22.5
Idaho	$27,822	$43,706	36.3
Illinois	$36,899	$52,394	29.5
Indiana	$32,688	$47,316	30.9
Iowa	$33,724	$48,115	29.9
Kansas	$32,564	$46,797	30.4
Kentucky	$31,440	$43,912	28.4
Louisiana	$29,657	$47,051	36.9
Maine	$34,624	$46,196	25.0
Maryland	$46,332	$59,324	21.9
Massachusetts	$44,721	$61,060	26.7
Michigan	$32,208	$47,107	31.62
Minnesota	$39,871	$54,060	26.2
Mississippi	$28,841	$41,512	30.5
Missouri	$33,619	$46,102	27.0
Montana	$30,643	$43,187	29.0
Nebraska	$33,786	$47,603	29.0
Nevada	$35,155	$44,706	21.3
New Hampshire	$39,729	$56,601	29.8
New Jersey	$42,399	$60,103	29.4
New Mexico	$29,731	$40,012	25.6
New York	$41,423	$53,541	22.6
North Carolina	$33,834	$44,832	24.5
North Dakota	$35,363	$50,877	30.5
Ohio	$33,651	$47,317	28.9
Oklahoma	$30,499	$44,449	31.3
Oregon	$34,964	$47,618	26.5
Pennsylvania	$35,252	$50,951	30.8
Rhode Island	$38,912	$52,663	26.1
South Carolina	$32,164	$44,652	27.9
South Dakota	$33,516	$45,835	26.8
Tennessee	$32,935	$44,951	26.7
Texas	$33,429	$47,330	29.3
Utah	$29,250	$50,742	42.3
Vermont	$36,824	$45,098	18.3
Virginia	$38,966	$55,259	29.4
Washington	$40,196	$58,197	30.9
West Virginia	$29,470	$43,262	31.8
Wisconsin	$35,339	$50,064	29.4
Wyoming	$30,693	$51,640	40.5

Gender and occupation

Wage disparity is much more pronounced in certain occupations than in others.

The gender pay gap is low in community and social service occupations, where women earn 97.8% of men's median earnings.

However, the legal field tells a different story. Women earn just 53.5% of men's median earnings in this field.

The gender pay gap is also relatively high in sales, where women earn 67.7% of men's median earnings, and transportation, where women earn 71.8% of men's median earnings.

Occupational Category	Men's Median Earnings	Women's Median Earnings	Women’s % of Men’s
Architecture and Engineering Occupations	$96,938	$85,163	87.9%
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations	$67,623	$60,840	90.0%
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations	$37,239	$29,141	78.3%
Business and Financial Operations Occupations	$90,069	$71,856	79.8%
Community and Social Service Occupations	$54,946	$53,745	97.8%
Computer and Mathematical Occupations	$103,298	$87,509	84.7%
Construction and Extraction Occupations	$50,558	$40,164	79.4%
Educational, Instruction, and Library Occupations	$66,043	$53,519	81.0%
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations	$37,396	$29,304	78.4%
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations	$32,097	$27,393	85.3%
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations	$95,762	$72,119	75.3%
Healthcare Support Occupations	$39,160	$34,691	88.6%
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations	$54,928	$46,973	85.5%
Legal Occupations	$150,658	$80,673	53.5%
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations	$82,726	$73,766	89.2%
Management Occupations	$99,144	$76,066	76.7%
Material Moving Occupations	$37,573	$32,174	85.6%
Office and Administrative Support Occupations	$50,124	$42,303	84.4%
Personal Care and Service Occupations	$40,014	$31,713	79.3%
Production Occupations	$49,667	$36,546	73.6%
Protective Service Occupations	$64,749	$50,411	77.9%
Sales and Related Occupations	$63,240	$42,808	67.7%
Transportation Occupations	$53,242	$38,252	71.8%

Average annual salary in the US over the last 10 years

From 2015 to 2024, median yearly earnings in the US have increased from $42,692 to $60,580.

This represents a 41.9% increase over a 10-year span.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The average annual salary in the US has increased incrementally over the past decade.

However, the biggest jump occurred from 2021 to 2022, when annual earnings increased by 7.33% from $52,468 to $56,316.

Year	Median Weekly Earnings	Median Annual Earnings	Median Weekly Earnings (1982-1984 Dollars)	Median Annual Earnings (1982-1984 Dollars)
2015	$821	$42,692	$345	$17,940
2016	$845	$43,940	$349	$18,148
2017	$854	$44,408	$345	$17,940
2018	$897	$46,644	$355	$18,460
2019	$934	$48,568	$362	$18,824
2020	$983	$51,116	$376	$19,552
2021	$1,009	$52,468	$362	$18,824
2022	$1,083	$56,316	$363	$18,876
2023	$1,142	$59,384	$371	$19,292
2024	$1,165		$371	$19,292

Why salary information matters to small businesses

For small business owners, salary data informs everything from financial planning and budgeting to growth and scaling.

Here are a few ways to incorporate this information into your planning process.

Financial planning

Ideally, you want to attract top-tier talent and pay them what they're worth.

But can your business afford that?

What is the average salary in the US, and how does it compare to the wages you offer?

With average salary data in hand, you can make informed decisions about what to pay employees.

The more you know about salary requirements for your team, the easier you can manage payroll expenses.

Benchmarking

For small businesses, the cost of replacing employees can become expensive quickly.

In many cases, it's more cost-effective to retain good employees and reward them for staying with the company.

However, you won't know how much to offer if you don't have a sense of industry standards.

Reviewing average salary data allows you to benchmark your compensation packages within your industry.

Budget allocation

Whether you use activity-based, priority-based, or another method of budget allocation, you need to know how employee salaries factor into your small business's budget.

When you know the average salary ranges for key employees, you can factor in the data as you evaluate business needs.

With accounting software, you can easily allocate realistic amounts for each department or project.

Analyzing market trends

How is the economy affecting your industry?

Has inflation made an impact on salaries? Is compensation in your area skyrocketing or increasing relatively slowly over time?

By analyzing average salary data, you can gain a better understanding of market trends and economic conditions.

Then, you can use the data as an early warning system to alert you about essential salary and budget adjustments.

You can also use it for strategic planning and long-term goals.

Growth and expansion

If you intend to scale your business rather than maintain the status quo, you need to know if your current growth trajectory is sustainable.

While salary is just one part of this equation, it's a critical point to consider.

Planning a hiring spree?

Checking salary data can help you confirm whether you can afford to acquire new talent at the right scale.

Reviewing recent salary trends can also help you assess whether your business can keep pace as it grows.

This data can also help with projections and planning to adjust salaries to keep up with the cost of living.

Budget allocation and payroll management don't have to be complicated.

With the right accounting software, you can manage both seamlessly.

FAQs about average salary in the US

What is a good salary in the US?

A good salary covers living expenses for the worker and their family, allowing them to live comfortably.

For a family of four with two working adults, the living wage in the US is $25.02 per hour or $104,077.02 per year.

However, location is a major factor in the cost of living comfortably.

A good salary should allow workers to exceed the basic standards of living in their local area.

The cost of living varies significantly across states and metro areas.

The San Francisco metro area has one of the highest costs of living in the US.

In San Francisco, the living wage for a 4-person household with 2 working adults is $39.62 per hour.

To cover typical living expenses, the required annual income is $164,827.

In contrast, Mississippi has one of the lowest costs of living.

In Mississippi, the living wage for a 4-person household with 2 working adults is $21.37 per hour.

To cover typical living expenses, the required annual income is $88,895.

What percentage of Americans make $75,000 a year?

In the US, 68.37% of households earn $75,000 or more per year – 31.3% of households earn less than $75,000 per year.

The median household income is $80,610

The most common income bracket is $100,000 to $149,000 with 17% of households in the US making this level of income.

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* The median is the middle value in a set of numbers arranged in order. The median shows the central point of the data and isn’t affected by extreme values, making it useful for understanding typical values in uneven or skewed data.