:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/youngcareersalarynews0-1000-f1e270f1522f4075a934d32d49f2f95c.jpg "Average Earnings by Age Group Revealed: Is Your Salary Competitive?")
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Key Takeaways
- For those starting their work life between the ages of 16 and 24, the median salary is $40,092 per year ($771 per week).
- The age group that earns the most, according to Federal Reserve data, is the 35-44 cohort, at $72,020 per year ($1,385 per week).
- The “median” salary is the halfway point of all salaries, meaning that half of workers earned more than that and half earned less.
Once you’ve settled into a new job, you might find yourself focused on the day-to-day, filling your time with meetings, tasks, and projects that keep you busy. You might not think much about how your paycheck stacks up against others’—until you start wondering whether you’re being paid what you’re worth.
But stepping back to ask a simple question—how does my income compare to others my age?—can give you a better sense of your career trajectory.
What’s the Median Salary for Someone 16-24?
When you’re starting your career, your income will likely be the lowest it’ll ever be. Though it can be tough to make things work on an entry-level salary, you won’t be here forever.
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the median weekly salary for someone between the ages of 16 and 24 is $771. That’s $40,092 per year.
What’s the Median Salary for Someone 25-34?
At this point in your career, you’ve likely had your first raise. As you start making more money, be on the lookout for lifestyle creep—as your income rises, it’s so easy for expenses to, too. One solution is to pay yourself first: Automate your savings so money is taken out of every paycheck before you can get your hands on it.
The median weekly salary for someone between the ages of 25 and 34 is $1,150. That’s $59,800 per year.
Tip
When you get a bonus, consider the 80/20 rule: use 80% of it to paying down debt, saving, or investing, and use 20% to treat yourself, guilt-free.
What’s the Median Salary for Someone 35-44?
By this stage of your career, you’ve likely had a few jobs, or have even changed fields. You might have started a family, and bills for what they need might seem to be outpacing your salary. Hopefully, you’ve had a few raises and bonuses, and you’ve put away some savings.
The median weekly salary for someone between the ages of 35 and 44 is $1,385. That’s $72,020 per year.
Tip
Want to see how your salary compares to others in your field? The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks wages for over 800 occupations at data.bls.gov/oesprofile. Use the first dropdown to select your occupational group, then find your job title in the second to see the national median, plus what top and bottom earners make. You can narrow your search further by state and industry.
What’s the Median Salary for Someone Who’s 45-54?
In this phase of life, so many things need your attention: your children, your aging parents, your looming retirement.
Maxing out your 401(k) and your individual retirement account (IRA) would be ideal—and even better, once you turn 50, you can take advantage of “catch-up” contributions. For 2026, if you’re 50-59, you can contribute $8,000 more to your 401(k) than younger people can. You can contribute up to $32,500 to your 401(k) and up to $8,600 to your IRA.
The median weekly salary for someone between the ages of 45 and 54 is $1,377. That’s $71,604 per year.
What’s the Median Salary for Someone 55-64?
If you’re typical of this age group, your kids are out of (or almost out of) the house, and retirement is knocking at your door.
The federal government allows you to save more at this age in your 401(k)—up to $32,500 for ages 50 to 59 and $35,750 for those 60 to 63 in 2026.
The median weekly salary for someone between the ages of 55 and 64 is $1,322. That’s $68,744 per year.
What’s the Median Salary for Someone 65 or Older?
During retirement, income looks different. Some people don’t ever retire—they continue their career or pick up part-time work to get by. (About 4 in 10 Social Security recipients are still working.) For others, their income comes from investments, rather than a job.
The median weekly salary for someone age 65 or older is $1,193. That’s $62,036 per year.
