Income Percentile by Age Calculator
See where your annual income ranks against other Americans your age. Based on 2024 US Census Bureau and IRS distribution data. Use this to benchmark salary growth vs your cohort.
US individual income by age group (2024 data)
| Age | Median (50th) | Top 25% (75th) | Top 10% (90th) | Top 1% (99th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | $28,000 | $45,000 | $70,000 | $180,000 |
| 25-34 | $48,000 | $75,000 | $115,000 | $320,000 |
| 35-44 | $60,000 | $92,000 | $145,000 | $485,000 |
| 45-54 | $65,000 | $98,000 | $160,000 | $620,000 |
| 55-64 | $58,000 | $92,000 | $155,000 | $550,000 |
| 65+ | $35,000 | $60,000 | $110,000 | $425,000 |
Source: 2024 US Census Bureau Current Population Survey (CPS) and IRS Statistics of Income data. Individual earners only (not household). Income peaks in the 45-54 cohort and declines after retirement age.
Why income peaks in your 40s and 50s
US wage data consistently shows individual income peaking between ages 45-54. Reasons:
- Career tenure: Senior roles, management, accumulated skills
- Years of compounded raises: Even modest annual raises compound substantially over 20-25 years
- Peak earning years for professionals: Doctors, lawyers, executives reach highest pay around this age
- Reduced caretaking demand: Children often grown, less career limit
Income then declines slightly in late 50s through 60s as people retire, downshift, or transition to part-time work.
FAQs
How do I know my income percentile?
Enter your annual income and age. The calculator compares your earnings against US Census/IRS distribution data for your age cohort. If your percentile is 80, you earn more than 80% of Americans your age. Note this is INDIVIDUAL income (single earner), not household income.
What is the average income by age in the US?
Based on 2024 Census data: median individual income peaks in the late 40s and early 50s at around 60,000 to 65,000 dollars per year. Ages 18-24 median is roughly 28,000 dollars (many in school/entry-level). Ages 65+ median drops to about 35,000 dollars as people retire.
Is this household income or individual income?
Individual income only — wages, salary, business income, retirement income for one person. For household income (combined earnings of all adults living together), use a household percentile calculator. Married couples filing jointly typically have higher household percentiles than individual percentiles.
How accurate are these income percentiles?
These reflect 2024 IRS and Census Bureau data, which is the most recent available. Income distributions shift slightly year to year, but the percentile structure is generally stable. Higher precision requires more granular regional and occupational data — these are national averages.
What percentile is 100,000 dollars at age 30?
At age 30 in the US, 100,000 dollars individual income puts you around the 85th-90th percentile nationally. Income distributions are skewed by older age groups (more career-tenured); for young workers, 100K is exceptional.
Is 75,000 dollars a good salary?
It depends heavily on age and location. At age 25, 75K is around the 75th percentile nationally (top quartile). At age 50, 75K is closer to the 60th percentile (above median but not high). Cost of living also matters: 75K in rural Alabama goes much further than 75K in San Francisco or NYC.
What is considered upper class income?
Common framework: upper-middle class is 100K-200K, upper class starts around 250K-400K (top 5%), and 'wealthy' is typically 500K+ (top 1%). These thresholds vary by source (Pew, Brookings, IRS). Top 0.1% earners make 3 million plus annually.