Earnings tend to rise through your career and plateau in your 40s–50s. Here are typical full-time annual earnings by age in the United States, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Salary by age in the U.S.
| Age | Median | Average |
|---|---|---|
| 20–24 | $38,000 | $41,000 |
| 25–34 | $52,600 | $60,000 |
| 35–44 | $62,400 | $75,000 |
| 45–54 | $63,000 | $78,000 |
| 55–64 | $61,800 | $76,000 |
| 65+ | $60,000 | $72,000 |
About these numbers
The median is the middle full-time worker for that age. The average sits higher because top earners pull it up. Pay typically peaks in your late 40s to early 50s, then levels off.
How to improve your number
- The biggest raises usually come from switching jobs, not staying put.
- In-demand skills and certifications move you up the pay scale fast.
- Always negotiate an offer — even a small bump compounds over a career.
- Turn a higher salary into wealth by investing the raises, not spending them.
Convert your hourly wage to a salary
Use our free calculator to plan your next move.
Open the calculator →Frequently asked questions
Is this before or after tax?
These are gross (pre-tax) earnings for full-time workers. Take-home pay is lower after taxes and deductions.
Why does pay drop slightly after 55?
Averages can dip as people shift to part-time or lower-stress roles near retirement, and as higher earners exit the full-time workforce.
How can I earn above the median?
Building scarce, in-demand skills, changing employers strategically, and negotiating raises are the fastest levers.
Figures use U.S. comparison data based on Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances and Bureau of Labor Statistics datasets.