Ever feel like you’re doing okay, but then you see a TikTok about some 23-year-old making $200k in tech and suddenly feel behind? Honestly, we've all been there. Comparing yourself to a "national average" is kinda like trying to buy a pair of shoes that fits everyone in the country—it usually doesn't fit anyone perfectly.
The average income in us is a number that gets thrown around in political debates and news headlines a lot, but it’s actually several different numbers depending on who you ask.
If we look at the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the third quarter of 2025, the median weekly earnings for full-time workers sat at $1,214. If you do the quick math, that’s about $63,128 a year. But wait, the Census Bureau just reported that the median household income—which counts everyone living under one roof—climbed to $83,730 in 2024.
Confusing? Yeah, it is.
Why the Average Income in US is a Bit of a Lie
When people talk about "averages," they often mean the mean. You add up every single dollar earned in America and divide it by the number of people. The problem? Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are in that calculation. Their billions pull the "average" way up, making it look like the typical American is swimming in cash.
That’s why experts like Melissa Kollar and Zach Scherer at the Census Bureau prefer the median.
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The median is the true middle. If you lined up every American from the poorest to the richest, the person standing exactly in the middle is the median.
In late 2025, wages grew by about 5.01% compared to the year before. That sounds great on paper, but you've probably noticed that eggs and rent aren't getting any cheaper. While nominal wages (the number on your paycheck) are going up, "real wages" (what that money actually buys) are only inching ahead of inflation by about 1.7% to 1.8%.
Geography is Everything
Where you live basically dictates how far that average income in us actually goes. Making $70,000 in Mississippi is a completely different lifestyle than making $70,000 in San Francisco.
- Washington, D.C. is currently the heavy hitter, with average hourly wages hitting $52.89 in early 2025.
- Massachusetts and Washington State aren't far behind, with hourly averages over $41.
- Mississippi remains at the bottom of the scale, with an average hourly wage of around $28.25.
It’s a massive gap. We’re talking about a $24 per hour difference between the highest and lowest states. This is why a single national "average" doesn't tell the whole story. You’ve got to look at your local economy to see if you’re actually "average" for your area.
The Degree Dilemma and the Age Peak
We’re told from a young age that college is the golden ticket. The data actually backs that up, even if student loans make it feel like a trap.
According to the BLS 2025 third-quarter report, workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher earned a median of $1,747 per week. Meanwhile, those with only a high school diploma earned about $980. That’s a difference of nearly $40,000 a year.
But money also changes as you blow out more birthday candles.
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You don't usually hit your peak earning years until you're between 35 and 54. For men in that bracket, the median weekly earnings hover around $1,500. For women, it’s closer to $1,200. Younger workers (ages 16-24) are often just starting out, taking home a median of roughly $715 to $800 a week.
The Industry Shift
Not all jobs are created equal when it comes to the average income in us.
If you're in management or professional roles, you're likely seeing median weekly checks around $1,662. If you're in service occupations—think food service or hospitality—that number drops significantly to around $795.
Interestingly, 2025 showed a "strategic" shift in pay. Employers aren't just handing out 5% raises to everyone anymore. They are targeting "critical" roles. If you’re a maintenance technician, a machinist, or an automation specialist, you probably have more leverage right now than a general office administrator. Companies are terrified of losing the people who keep the machines running.
The Reality of the "Great Divide"
There is a concept economists call the "Gini index." It’s basically a way to measure how unequal a country is.
While the top 5% of earners in places like New York are pulling in an average of $575,505, the bottom 20% in that same state might only see $13,647. This is the "Great Divide" that researchers at organizations like Advisor Perspectives often highlight.
The top four quintiles (the top 80% of earners) are currently sitting at their highest "real" income levels in history. The bottom 20%? They are still struggling to get back to where they were in 2019 before the world turned upside down.
How to Use This Information
Knowing the average income in us isn't just about trivia; it’s about negotiation power.
If you know the median for your specific role, age, and state, you can walk into a performance review with actual evidence. For example, if you're a 40-year-old professional in California, you shouldn't be comparing yourself to the national median of $63k—you should be looking at the $88k+ median for your specific region.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the "Real" Median for Your City: Use the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) tools to find the median income for your specific metro area. This is your true baseline.
- Calculate Your Real Wage Growth: Take your last raise percentage and subtract the current inflation rate (which was roughly 2.7% in late 2025). If the result is negative, you’ve actually taken a pay cut in terms of purchasing power.
- Audit Your Role’s "Criticality": Look at job boards for your current title. Are there a lot of openings but few applicants? If your role is in high demand (like skilled trades or tech), 2026 is a prime year to negotiate a "retention" raise based on market scarcity.
- Diversify Beyond Wages: Since household income ($83,730) is significantly higher than individual earnings ($63,128), most American wealth is built through multi-income households or side investments. If your primary wage has stalled, look at "gap-filling" through passive income or tax-advantaged accounts.
The "average" is just a landmark on a map. It tells you where the crowd is, but it doesn't tell you where you should be going. Use these numbers as a floor, not a ceiling.