MINIMUM AND AVERAGE SALARY IN THE UNITED STATES
Pay in the United States is highly location-dependent. The same occupation can come with very different wages, taxes, health-insurance costs and housing expenses from one state to another. Anyone planning to work in the United States should assess the entire offer, not just the advertised salary.
AT A GLANCE
- The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour, although many states and cities require more.
- Median usual weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers were $1,251 in the second quarter of 2026.
- The BLS estimate of the mean annual wage across all occupations was $69,770 in May 2025.
- Federal income-tax rates range from 10% to 37% of taxable income; state and local taxes can also apply.
CONTENTS
Minimum wage in the United States
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. It has not changed since 2009. In practice, however, many workers are covered by a higher state or local minimum wage, and the employer must generally use the higher applicable rate.
A state rate is not always the final answer. Several cities and counties set higher local rates, while some states use different rates for small employers, seasonal work or specific locations. The grid below shows the principal statewide rate, or the effective federal rate where no higher statewide rate applies.
State minimum hourly wage rates
Rates of $15.00 or more are highlighted. New York and Oregon apply different rates by location; several states have separate rules for small employers or employment not covered by federal law.
IMPORTANT
A minimum hourly rate is not the same as a guaranteed monthly income. Actual earnings depend on scheduled hours, overtime, tips, sector-specific rules and local legislation.
Average and median salary
In the second quarter of 2026, median usual weekly earnings were $1,251 for the nation’s full-time wage and salary workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median earnings mean that half of this group earned less and half earned more. The measure does not cover every worker, including the self-employed and many part-time workers.
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics programme gives a different measure: the mean annual wage across all occupations was $69,770 in May 2025. It is an arithmetic average across occupational employment and should not be treated as the same statistic as quarterly median weekly earnings.
Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers
| Worker group | USD per week |
|---|---|
| All workers aged 16 and over | 1,251 |
| Men | 1,380 |
| Women | 1,131 |
| Workers aged 16–24 | 806 |
| Workers aged 25–34 | 1,160 |
| Workers aged 35–44 | 1,436 |
| Workers aged 45–54 | 1,421 |
| Workers aged 55 and over | 1,335 |
NOTE
There is no universally accurate way to turn weekly earnings into a monthly salary. Pay can vary with paid weeks, hourly schedules, overtime, bonuses and changing workloads. A relocation budget should be based on the actual offer.
Pay by economic sector
The BLS publishes average hourly and weekly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls. These figures describe broad industries rather than particular occupations, but they show how sharply earnings can differ between sectors.
Average earnings in private economic sectors
| Sector | USD per hour | USD per week |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 56.28 | 2,420.04 |
| Information | 55.53 | 2,065.72 |
| Financial activities | 49.82 | 1,878.21 |
| Professional and business services | 45.70 | 1,681.76 |
| Construction | 41.66 | 1,645.57 |
| Mining and logging | 41.93 | 1,916.20 |
| Wholesale trade | 39.95 | 1,574.03 |
| Manufacturing | 36.92 | 1,495.26 |
| Private education and health services | 36.39 | 1,189.95 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 32.73 | 1,240.47 |
| Retail trade | 26.38 | 791.40 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 23.74 | 603.00 |
These are seasonally adjusted August 2026 figures for private-sector employees. Weekly earnings depend on both hourly pay and average weekly hours, which is why the two columns do not always rank sectors in the same order.
Salary by occupation
Occupation is usually more useful than a national average when assessing an offer. In the latest full Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release, the BLS estimated a mean annual wage of $69,770 across all occupations. The table below covers selected large occupations rather than a list of the highest-paid jobs.
Mean annual wage by selected occupation
| Occupation | USD per year |
|---|---|
| General and operations managers | 134,940 |
| Registered nurses | 101,420 |
| Customer service representatives | 46,590 |
| Office clerks, general | 46,420 |
| Laborers and freight, stock and material movers | 42,260 |
| Stockers and order fillers | 39,540 |
| Retail salespersons | 37,310 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 36,120 |
| Cashiers | 33,180 |
| Fast food and counter workers | 32,150 |
Doctors, senior executives, finance specialists and some technology and engineering roles can earn substantially more, but a foreign qualification may need recognition, a professional licence or U.S. work experience. Current labour-market demand is covered in the guide to shortage occupations in the United States.
States, taxes and living costs
State and city differences can matter more than the national average. Salaries in New York, California, Massachusetts, Washington and the District of Columbia are often higher, but housing, transport, healthcare and childcare can also cost considerably more.
Federal income tax is progressive. The table below applies to a single filer’s taxable income in 2026, after deductions. It does not mean that the highest rate applies to the person’s entire salary.
Federal income-tax brackets for a single filer
| Taxable annual income | Federal tax rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,401–$50,400 | 12% |
| $50,401–$105,700 | 22% |
| $105,701–$201,775 | 24% |
| $201,776–$256,225 | 32% |
| $256,226–$640,600 | 35% |
| Over $640,600 | 37% |
The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for a single filer. Payroll deductions can also include Social Security and Medicare, alongside state and local income taxes where applicable. Filing status, dependants, health-insurance premiums and retirement contributions make take-home pay highly individual.
The net salary calculator can help compare scenarios, but it does not replace an employer’s payroll calculation or a tax return. The cost of living in the United States is equally location-specific, so the savings calculator is useful for estimating a relocation reserve.
Once the likely net income and initial costs are clear, the salary comparison tool can put a U.S. offer beside one from another country.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- U.S. Department of Labor — Wage and Hour Division
- Internal Revenue Service
- Social Security Administration
- U.S. Department of State
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the federal minimum wage in the United States?
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Many states and cities apply a higher rate, which generally takes priority where it applies.
What is the average salary in the United States?
The BLS mean annual wage across all occupations was $69,770 in May 2025. This is an average, not a median or a guaranteed starting salary.
What is the median salary in the United States?
Median usual weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers were $1,251 in the second quarter of 2026, before income tax and other deductions.
Why can the same gross salary produce different take-home pay?
Net pay depends on federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state and local taxes, filing status, deductions, health insurance and retirement contributions.
Which sectors tend to pay more in the United States?
Among large private sectors, utilities, information, finance, and professional and business services reported high average earnings in the latest BLS monthly data.
Do foreign workers need a work visa in the United States?
Most foreign nationals need an immigration status that permits employment. The appropriate route depends on the employer, occupation and visa category.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WageCentre, with a degree in finance and 15+ years of professional experience. He writes about salaries, taxes, labour markets, immigration and financial planning for relocation.
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