Salary Percentile
Calculator
Enter your salary and see where you rank nationally, by state, and in your field. BLS 2024 data.
Enter your gross annual salary (pre-tax). Hourly workers: multiply hourly rate by 2,080.
Salary percentile by state
See how median wages and percentile breakpoints vary across the US.
Washington D.C. · Alaska · Connecticut · Colorado · and all 50 states
Frequently asked questions
What percentile is a good salary?
Any salary above the 50th percentile means you earn more than half of US workers. The national median is approximately $59,000 as of 2024 BLS data. The 75th percentile (roughly $97K) puts you in the top quarter nationally, which most financial planners consider a strong income. The top 10% starts around $145,000, and the top 1% is approximately $350,000 or more.
What is the median salary in the United States?
The median annual wage in the United States is approximately $59,000 as of 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data. This means half of all American workers earn below this figure and half earn above it. The mean (average) is higher, around $65,000, because high earners pull it up.
How does location affect salary percentile?
Location has a significant effect on where your salary ranks. States with higher costs of living — California, New York, Washington, Massachusetts — have higher median wages, so the same dollar amount ranks lower percentile-wise than in lower-cost states. Washington D.C. has the highest median at roughly $85,000. Mississippi has the lowest at around $43,000. This calculator adjusts your state percentile based on the state median, giving you a meaningful local comparison.
Why does my field matter for salary comparison?
Occupational medians vary enormously. The median for Technology and Software workers is around $105,000, while Hospitality and Food Service sits near $35,000. A salary of $80,000 in tech puts you below the field median; the same salary in Education places you well above it. Comparing yourself only to the national average without field context gives an incomplete picture of where you actually stand.