How your earnings stack up against others in your age group often depends on factors like where you live and what you do for a living. However, understanding the average annual income in America for your age group can provide valuable insight into whether you’re on par, ahead or falling behind your peers. Looking at what older generations earn can also help you set goals and plan for the future. To better manage your savings and investments or prepare for potential income growth across life stages, consider working with a financial advisor.
What Is the Average Salary in the U.S.?
Understanding the average salary in the U.S., both across the general population and for your specific age group, can help you assess your financial progress and make necessary adjustments. If you happen to find yourself below the average salary then it’s a good idea to dig deeper and see if it’s your overall career that falls below the average or if there is an opportunity to get paid more for what you’re doing right now.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides timely information on this topic, which is broken down into seven age groups. Note that the BLS provides medians rather than averages, since an average can be skewed by very high and very low numbers. According to Q4 2024 earnings data from the BLS, the median earnings among the country’s 120.3 million full-time wage and salary workers was $1,192 per week or $61,984 per year. That’s an increase of 4.1% from the fourth quarter of 2023.
You should also keep in mind when you’re financially planning for the future that your salary isn’t your take-home pay. You can use a paycheck calculator to figure out how much you’ll be taking home from your salary at different ages, so you can factor that into your investing strategy.
Median Salary for Ages 16-19
As you might imagine, the age group with the lowest salary is the one comprised entirely of teenagers, many of whom typically work summer or temporary jobs. According to the BLS data, the median salary of 16- to 19-year-olds is $679 per week, which comes out to $35,308 per year. That’s the median across all races, genders and education levels.
Median Salary for Ages 20-24
Earnings increase beginning in one’s 20s, as this age group includes some new college graduates. The median salary of 20- to 24-year-olds is $784 per week, which translates to $40,768 per year. Many Americans start out their careers in their 20s and don’t earn as much as they will once they reach their 30s.
Median Salary for Ages 25-34
For Americans ages 25 to 34, the median salary is $1,136 per week or $59,072 per year. That’s a big jump from the median salary for 20- to 24-year-olds. As a general rule, earnings tend to rise in your 20s and 30s as you start to climb up the ladder. Also, this set includes many people who received professional degrees from graduate schools, further bringing up salaries.
Median Salary for Ages 35-44
The median salary of 35- to 44-year-olds is $1,356 per week or $70,512 per year. That said, the number conceals considerable variation by gender. For example, male 35- to 44-year-olds earn a median salary of $1,488 per week, whereas women in the same age bracket earn a median of $1,205 per week.
Median Salary for Ages 45-54
Earnings start to level out in your 40s. The median salary of 45- to 54-year-olds is $1,336 per week or $69,472 per year. That’s actually slightly lower than the median for 35- to 44-year-olds. Again, the gender income gap is significant in this age group. The weekly median earnings for men in this age group is $1,468 compared to $1,193 for women.
Median Salary for Ages 55-64
The median salary for Americans aged 55 to 64 is $1,268 per week or $65,936 per year. Earnings in this age bracket are noticeably lower than in the 45-54 age bracket, and there are also fewer workers in this age bracket. According to the BLS, many people start to leave the workforce when they hit 62 and become eligible for Social Security benefits.
Median Salary for Ages 65 and Older
Americans aged 65 and older earn a median salary of $1,159 per week or $60,268 per year. This figure is for full-time workers, so it doesn’t take into account the many people in this age bracket who drop out of the workforce to begin taking income from Social Security and their retirement savings. There are more than 11 million workers in the 65 and older bracket. Some workers over 65 may remain in the workforce due to financial necessity or personal preference.
Check out the chart below to see a breakdown of the average annual salary by age group:
Q4 2024 Median Salary by Age (from the BLS)
| Age Group | Median Salary |
| 16-19 | $35,308 |
| 20-24 | $40,768 |
| 25-34 | $59,072 |
| 35-44 | $70,512 |
| 45-54 | $69,472 |
| 55-64 | $65,936 |
| 65+ | $60,268 |
Bottom Line
These BLS stats only consider full-time wage- or salary-earners. Since many Americans are unemployed or underemployed (working part-time when they would prefer to be working full-time), these numbers don’t fully reflect how much your age cohort is earning.
Within each age bracket, earnings vary widely by gender, race and education level, too. Some people also get income from sources other than salary and wage earnings, such as investment income. Still, knowing how much other full-time workers in your age bracket are earning can be a useful metric as you evaluate your overall financial picture.
Tips for Maximizing Your Salary
- Want to build a financial plan and start growing your wealth? A financial advisor can help get you on track to meet your goals. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- For many people, the salary from their employer is only part of their income stream. If you’re looking to line your pockets a little more, consider your options for generating passive income. This could be anything from buying a vending machine, renting out a spare room or even buying a business and having someone else run it.
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