What's the average salary in the US?

Median weekly wages for full-time and salaried workers in the U.S. rose nearly 5 percent from last year, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the first quarter of 2025, the median weekly wage rose to $1,194 — which translates to a monthly income of $5,174 or approximately $62,088 annually — representing a 4.8 percent increase from the same period in 2024.

Gender pay gap persists

Women earned $1,096 per week, about 83.9 percent of the median weekly wage of $1,307 for men, according to data. The wage gap varied by race and ethnicity:

• Black women: 96.8 percent of Black men’s median earnings
• Hispanic women: 88.7 percent of Hispanic men’s earnings
• White women: 82.2 percent of White men’s earnings
• Asian women: 79.9 percent of Asian men’s earnings

What is the average US salary by age?

Age remains a significant factor in earnings, with pay generally increasing with age until mid-career, then declining near retirement:

• 16-19 years old: $648 weekly or $33,696 annually
• 20-24 years old: $792 weekly or $41,184 annually
• 25-34 years old: $1,125 weekly or $58,500 annually
• 35-44 years old: $1,332 weekly or $69,264 annually
• 45-54 years old: $1,376 weekly or $71,552 annually
• 55-64 years old: $1,302 weekly or $67,704 annually
• 65+ years old: $1,222 weekly or $63,544 annually

Men aged 45 to 54 earned the most at $1,512 per week, according to the data, while women’s earnings peaked slightly lower, with those aged 45 to 54 earning $1,233 weekly.

Young workers aged 16 to 24 had the smallest gender gap, with women earning 92.2 percent of what men earned. The gap widened with age, at 84 percent for workers aged 25 to 54, and just 77.1 percent for those aged 55 and older, according to BLS data.

What is the average US salary by education level?

Education also plays a significant role in earning potential, the data showed. Here's what the median salary for U.S. workers looks like by educational attainment:

• Grade-school education: $743 weekly or $38,636 annually
• High school diploma only: $953 weekly or $49,556 annually
• Some college or associate degree: $1,096 weekly or $56,992 annually
• Bachelor’s degree: $1,603 weekly or $83,356 annually
• Advanced degree: $1,961 weekly or $101,972 annually

Workers with a bachelor’s degree earned over 68 percent more than those without any college education, or about $33,800 more per year.

Among top earners with advanced degrees, 10 percent of men made $5,079 or more per week, while women in that tier earned $3,528 or more.