Average Income of Americans in 2025 | Career Series

1. Average Household Income In The US

Based on the latest available data, the median household income in the United States is estimated to be $78,171. This represents a decrease of nearly $2,000 from the previous year.

In 2023, the median household income saw a significant increase of 4% to $80,610, a notable jump from the $77,540 recorded in 2022 and the first major increase since 2019.

However, this growth was not distributed evenly across all demographics. While households identifying as White and non-Hispanic White saw significant income increases, Black and Hispanic households did not experience a similar rise in their median incomes during that same period.

The following table displays the median household incomes in the United States recorded in 2022 and 2023 by race.

Race	Average Household Income in 2022	Average Household Income in 2023
All races	$77.5K	$80.6K
White	$80.3K	$84.6K
White Non-Hispanic	$84.3K	$89.1K
Black	$55.0K	$56.5K
Asian	$113.1K	$112.8K
Hispanic (All races)	$65.3K	$65.5K

Maryland leads the country with the highest median household income at $87,063 annually. The state's proximity to Washington, D.C., particularly in counties like Howard and Montgomery, fuels this success with high-paying jobs in the government, defense, and technology sectors.

Following closely are the northeastern states of New Jersey and Massachusetts, ranking second and third with median household incomes of $85,245 and $84,385, respectively. Their strong economies are supported by lucrative finance, technology, biotechnology, and higher education industries.

Rounding out the top five is Connecticut at $79,855 and Hawaii at $83,173. California comes in sixth at $78,672, followed by New Hampshire, Washington, Alaska, and Virginia, with incomes ranging from $76,398 to $77,923.

States with the highest household incomes:

1. Maryland - $87,063
2. New Jersey - $85,245
3. Massachusetts - $84,385
4. Hawaii - $83,173
5. Connecticut - $79,855
6. California - $78,672
7. New Hampshire - $77,923
8. Alaska - $77,790
9. Washington - $77,006
10. Virginia - $76,398

2. Average Income In The U.S. By Age

According to recent data, workers in the 35-to-44 age group have the highest median weekly earnings at $1,356, with the 45-to-54 age group not far behind at $1,336.

Income for workers increases significantly with age and experience.

For instance, the median weekly income for the 16-to-24 age group is $766, but this figure jumps to $1,136 for those aged 25-to-34, highlighting the impact of career advancement and education.

Young workers generally have the lowest earnings due to being in entry-level or part-time positions.

Age	Total ($)	Men ($)	Women ($)
16 years and over	1,192	1,302	1,083
16 to 24 years	766	796	721
25 to 34 years	1,136	1,187	1,062
35 to 44 years	1,356	1,488	1,205
45 to 54 years	1,336	1,468	1,193
55 to 64 years	1,268	1,442	1,097
65 years and over	1,159	1,313	1,055

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

3. Average U.S. Income By Education

A worker's level of education is directly correlated with their weekly earnings. Individuals without a high school diploma earn the lowest median income, at approximately $708 per week. In contrast, those with a professional degree earn the highest, with a median weekly income of $2,206.

The data clearly shows the financial benefit of higher education.

For example, a worker with a bachelor's degree earns a median of $1,493 per week, which is nearly $600 more than someone with only a high school diploma, who earns $899 per week. This difference in income amounts to over $30,000 annually.

The following table displays the median weekly earnings of US adults by education:

Education	Median Weekly Income
Less than a High School Diploma	$708
High school diploma	$899
Some college, no degree	$992
Associate’s degree	$1,058
Bachelor’s degree	$1,493
Master’s degree	$1,737
Professional degree	$2,206
Doctoral degree	$2,109

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

A professional degree is an advanced academic qualification designed to prepare students for a specific, often licensed, career. Unlike academic degrees (like a Ph.D.), which are typically focused on theoretical knowledge and research, professional degrees emphasize practical skills and direct application of knowledge to a particular field.

Some common examples of professional degrees include:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) for aspiring lawyers

• Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) for physicians

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) for dentists

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) for business professionals

These programs often include hands-on training, internships, or clinical practice to ensure graduates are ready to enter their chosen profession. Earning a professional degree is often a prerequisite for obtaining a license to practice in a regulated field.

4. Conclusion

The average annual income in the U.S. is $62,088, which is a 4.8% increase from the previous year. However, significant wage disparities exist across different demographics and regions.

Key Wage Disparities

• Gender: Men earn a median weekly income of $1,330, while women earn $1,078, resulting in a gap of $252 per week.

• Race and Ethnicity: Median weekly earnings vary significantly by racial and ethnic groups. Asian workers have the highest earnings at $1,553 per week, followed by White workers at $1,225. Black or African American workers earn $991, and Hispanic or Latino workers earn $947.

• Education: Higher education is directly linked to higher earnings. Workers with a professional degree earn a median of $2,206 per week, while those without a high school diploma earn just $708.

• Geography: Income levels also vary by state. Massachusetts and Washington have some of the highest median salaries, while Mississippi consistently has the lowest, highlighting a persistent income gap across the country.

Reference Link:

https://www.demandsage.com/average-us-income/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiQiniLJn6c

https://www.datapandas.org/ranking/median-household-income-by-state

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/11/the-median-salary-for-the-25-biggest-us-citiessee-how-you-compare.html

Happy Investing! 😉