Salary Percentile
Calculator
Enter your salary and see where you rank nationally, by state, and in your field. BLS OEWS May 2025 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
Salary percentile by field
See how median wages and percentile breakpoints vary across industries.
Frequently asked questions
What is an income percentile calculator?
An income percentile calculator shows where your income ranks compared to everyone else. Salary and income are treated the same way here: enter your annual pay and the calculator compares it against BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data for the whole US, your state, and your field, from the bottom of the distribution up to the 90th percentile (the highest BLS publishes in this dataset). There's no sign-up and nothing is saved.
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 $50,980 as of BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The 75th percentile ($80,520) puts you in the top quarter nationally, which most financial planners consider a strong income. The top 10% starts around $128,560. BLS OEWS doesn't publish a 95th or 99th percentile wage in this dataset, so this calculator doesn't claim one.
What is the median salary in the United States?
The median annual wage in the United States is $50,980 as of BLS OEWS May 2025 data, 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, $69,770, 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 $91,540. Mississippi has the lowest at $40,120. 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 $109,280, while Hospitality and Food Service sits at $35,050 (BLS OEWS May 2025). 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.