Pay data
Half of US workers earn less than $50,980 a year, a quarter earn more than $80,520, and the top 10% start at $128,560 (BLS, May 2025). Below: where every salary from $50,000 to $200,000 ranks, what each is worth in every state, and the jobs that typically pay it.
Calculator
Enter any salary to see where it ranks among all US workers, or among workers in your state.
About the 70th percentile
You earn more than about 70% of workers in the US.
Interpolated between the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages BLS publishes for all occupations (OEWS, May 2025). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed. Price comparison uses BEA Regional Price Parities.
At a glance
| Salary | US percentile | Hourly (2,080 h) | Goes furthest in | Goes least far in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | 48th | $24.04 | Arkansas | California |
| $60,000 | 58th | $28.85 | Arkansas | California |
| $70,000 | 66th | $33.65 | Arkansas | California |
| $75,000 | 70th | $36.06 | Arkansas | California |
| $80,000 | 75th | $38.46 | Arkansas | California |
| $90,000 | 78th | $43.27 | Arkansas | California |
| $100,000 | 81st | $48.08 | Arkansas | California |
| $120,000 | 87th | $57.69 | Arkansas | California |
| $150,000 | Top 10% | $72.12 | Arkansas | California |
| $200,000 | Top 10% | $96.15 | Arkansas | California |
Salary by salary
Each answer is the salary's place among US workers, what it is worth at state prices, and common jobs whose median is close to it.
It is about average: close to the $50,980 US median.
At local prices it is worth $57,510 in Arkansas and $45,160 in California. That is $24.04 an hour, or $4,167 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive ($47,540), Maintenance and Repair Worker, General ($49,590), Bookkeeper ($50,670), First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers ($48,520).
Yes, by national standards: it is above the $50,980 median and out-earns about 58% of US workers.
At local prices it is worth $69,020 in Arkansas and $54,190 in California. That is $28.85 an hour, or $5,000 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: Truck Driver ($58,640), Elementary School Teacher ($63,970), Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor ($60,320), Mental Health Counselor ($60,320).
Yes, by national standards: it is above the $50,980 median and out-earns about 66% of US workers.
At local prices it is worth $80,520 in Arkansas and $63,220 in California. That is $33.65 an hour, or $5,833 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers ($69,500), Sales Representative of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel ($69,990), Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products ($72,080), High School Teacher ($72,040).
Yes, by national standards: it is above the $50,980 median and out-earns about 70% of US workers.
At local prices it is worth $86,270 in Arkansas and $67,740 in California. That is $36.06 an hour, or $6,250 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers ($69,500), Sales Representative of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel ($69,990), Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products ($72,080), High School Teacher ($72,040).
Yes: $80,000 out-earns about 75% of US workers, comfortably in the top quarter.
At local prices it is worth $92,020 in Arkansas and $72,250 in California. That is $38.46 an hour, or $6,667 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: Accountant ($83,680), Business Continuity Planner ($83,050), Human Resources Specialist ($75,940), Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist ($78,760).
Yes: $90,000 out-earns about 78% of US workers, comfortably in the top quarter.
At local prices it is worth $103,520 in Arkansas and $81,290 in California. That is $43.27 an hour, or $7,500 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: Accountant ($83,680), First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers ($87,520), Producer and Director ($90,360), Occupational Health and Safety Specialist ($90,150).
Yes: $100,000 out-earns about 81% of US workers, comfortably in the top quarter.
At local prices it is worth $115,030 in Arkansas and $90,320 in California. That is $48.08 an hour, or $8,333 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: General and Operations Manager ($105,770), Registered Nurse ($97,550), Project Management Specialist ($102,320), Management Analyst ($101,860).
Yes: $120,000 out-earns about 87% of US workers, comfortably in the top quarter.
At local prices it is worth $138,030 in Arkansas and $108,380 in California. That is $57.69 an hour, or $10,000 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: Medical and Health Services Manager ($123,860), Web Administrator ($116,580), Construction Manager ($114,990), Administrative Services Manager ($114,130).
Yes: $150,000 puts you in the top 10% of US earners.
At local prices it is worth $172,540 in Arkansas and $135,480 in California. That is $72.12 an hour, or $12,500 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: Lawyer ($159,670), Sales Manager ($148,270), Regulatory Affairs Manager ($141,900), Pharmacist ($140,910).
Yes: $200,000 puts you in the top 10% of US earners.
At local prices it is worth $230,050 in Arkansas and $180,640 in California. That is $96.15 an hour, or $16,667 a month before tax.
Jobs with a median near it: Chief Executive ($213,990), Pediatrician, General ($210,040), Industrial-Organizational Psychologist ($193,950).
By state
Where each amount ranks among that state's own workers (BLS OEWS state percentiles, May 2025). The same $75,000 is a top-quarter salary in some states and below the middle in others.
| State | $50k | $75k | $100k | $150k | State median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 55th | 79th | 89th | Top 10% | $45,670 |
| Alaska | 34th | 61st | 78th | Top 10% | $61,000 |
| Arizona | 50th | 72nd | 83rd | Top 10% | $50,060 |
| Arkansas | 59th | 81st | Top 10% | Top 10% | $43,630 |
| California | 38th | 61st | 76th | 88th | $58,240 |
| Colorado | 35th | 61st | 77th | Top 10% | $59,800 |
| Connecticut | 37th | 61st | 77th | Top 10% | $59,690 |
| Delaware | 46th | 69th | 81st | Top 10% | $52,190 |
| District of Columbia | 20th | 39th | 54th | 77th | $91,540 |
| Florida | 52nd | 75th | 84th | Top 10% | $47,880 |
| Georgia | 52nd | 73rd | 82nd | Top 10% | $48,170 |
| Hawaii | 40th | 69th | 82nd | Top 10% | $56,320 |
| Idaho | 52nd | 76th | 88th | Top 10% | $47,970 |
| Illinois | 47th | 69th | 81st | Top 10% | $51,960 |
| Indiana | 52nd | 77th | 89th | Top 10% | $47,860 |
| Iowa | 52nd | 77th | Top 10% | Top 10% | $48,540 |
| Kansas | 52nd | 76th | 88th | Top 10% | $48,010 |
| Kentucky | 54th | 79th | Top 10% | Top 10% | $46,920 |
| Louisiana | 55th | 79th | 90th | Top 10% | $45,520 |
| Maine | 47th | 74th | 87th | Top 10% | $51,430 |
| Maryland | 38th | 60th | 76th | Top 10% | $59,510 |
| Massachusetts | 32nd | 57th | 73rd | 87th | $63,590 |
| Michigan | 51st | 72nd | 85th | Top 10% | $49,270 |
| Minnesota | 40th | 68th | 81st | Top 10% | $56,920 |
| Mississippi | 62nd | 84th | Top 10% | Top 10% | $40,120 |
| Missouri | 52nd | 75th | 88th | Top 10% | $47,800 |
| Montana | 51st | 76th | 90th | Top 10% | $48,740 |
| Nebraska | 51st | 76th | 88th | Top 10% | $48,980 |
| Nevada | 52nd | 75th | 87th | Top 10% | $47,660 |
| New Hampshire | 41st | 68th | 81st | Top 10% | $55,880 |
| New Jersey | 39th | 61st | 76th | Top 10% | $58,570 |
| New Mexico | 53rd | 75th | 86th | Top 10% | $47,210 |
| New York | 37th | 60th | 75th | 88th | $59,670 |
| North Carolina | 52nd | 74th | 83rd | Top 10% | $47,970 |
| North Dakota | 46th | 74th | 88th | Top 10% | $52,480 |
| Ohio | 51st | 73rd | 87th | Top 10% | $49,380 |
| Oklahoma | 55th | 79th | 90th | Top 10% | $45,600 |
| Oregon | 38th | 67th | 80th | Top 10% | $57,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 50th | 72nd | 83rd | Top 10% | $49,690 |
| Rhode Island | 40th | 66th | 80th | Top 10% | $56,780 |
| South Carolina | 54th | 77th | 89th | Top 10% | $46,490 |
| South Dakota | 54th | 80th | Top 10% | Top 10% | $47,080 |
| Tennessee | 53rd | 77th | 89th | Top 10% | $47,380 |
| Texas | 51st | 73rd | 82nd | Top 10% | $48,620 |
| Utah | 50th | 72nd | 83rd | Top 10% | $50,110 |
| Vermont | 38th | 70th | 85th | Top 10% | $56,390 |
| Virginia | 42nd | 64th | 78th | Top 10% | $55,690 |
| Washington | 30th | 58th | 74th | 89th | $62,990 |
| West Virginia | 56th | 80th | Top 10% | Top 10% | $45,300 |
| Wisconsin | 49th | 74th | 87th | Top 10% | $50,270 |
| Wyoming | 49th | 75th | 88th | Top 10% | $50,270 |
Method
Questions
Measured against other workers: anything above the $50,980 median out-earns half of all US wage and salary workers, $80,520 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $128,560 or more in the top 10% (BLS OEWS, May 2025). What a salary buys depends on where you live: prices in the most expensive state run 11% above the national average.
Yes, by national standards: it is above the $50,980 median and out-earns about 66% of US workers. It is worth the most at local prices in Arkansas ($80,520 in national-average dollars) and the least in California ($63,220).
Yes: $100,000 out-earns about 81% of US workers, comfortably in the top quarter. It is worth the most at local prices in Arkansas ($115,030 in national-average dollars) and the least in California ($90,320).
Yes: $150,000 puts you in the top 10% of US earners. It is worth the most at local prices in Arkansas ($172,540 in national-average dollars) and the least in California ($135,480).
$128,560 a year or more, for all US wage and salary workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The bottom 10% earn less than $31,200.
