Median vs. average: what each one tells you
- Median. Line every worker up from lowest to highest pay and take the one in the middle. It describes the typical worker and is not moved by a few very high wages.
- Average (mean). Add up every wage and divide by the number of workers. It is useful for totals and budgets, but a small group of high earners raises it.
For all U.S. jobs the average is 37% higher than the median. When a page shows both, the distance between them tells you how unequal pay is in that job or place.
U.S. pay, all jobs: percentiles and the average
| 10th | $31,200 |
|---|---|
| 25th | $37,590 |
| Median | $50,980 |
| Average | $69,770 |
| 75th | $80,520 |
| 90th | $128,560 |
Jobs where the average and the median differ most
In jobs with a few stars and many modest earners the average says little about typical pay. Athletes and Sports Competitors is the extreme case: the median is $66,710 but the average is $206,180. At the other end, for pharmacists, elevator and escalator installers and repairers, food preparation workers the two are almost the same, because most people in those jobs earn similar pay.
| Job | Median | Average | Average vs. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | $206,180 | +209% |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $82,890 | $141,580 | +71% |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $78,720 | +66% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | $102,460 | +65% |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $105,070 | $156,670 | +49% |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $78,660 | $109,150 | +39% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | $147,570 | +38% |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | $73,150 | +32% |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $52,830 | $69,510 | +32% |
| Insurance Sales Agents | $62,280 | $81,480 | +31% |
Median and average salary by state
Washington, D.C. has the highest median salary ($91,540) and Puerto Rico the lowest ($28,680). Sort the table by either column; each state links to its pay by city and job.
| State | Median salary | Average salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $91,540 | $111,010 |
| Massachusetts | $63,590 | $85,610 |
| Washington | $62,990 | $83,330 |
| Alaska | $61,000 | $74,720 |
| Colorado | $59,800 | $77,190 |
| Connecticut | $59,690 | $77,420 |
| New York | $59,670 | $82,460 |
| Maryland | $59,510 | $77,580 |
| New Jersey | $58,570 | $78,040 |
| California | $58,240 | $80,690 |
| Oregon | $57,000 | $72,460 |
| Minnesota | $56,920 | $71,160 |
| Rhode Island | $56,780 | $71,900 |
| Vermont | $56,390 | $69,050 |
| Hawaii | $56,320 | $70,270 |
| New Hampshire | $55,880 | $71,360 |
| Virginia | $55,690 | $74,040 |
| North Dakota | $52,480 | $64,050 |
| Delaware | $52,190 | $69,880 |
| Illinois | $51,960 | $71,130 |
| Maine | $51,430 | $65,780 |
| Wisconsin | $50,270 | $64,270 |
| Wyoming | $50,270 | $61,560 |
| Utah | $50,110 | $66,290 |
| Arizona | $50,060 | $67,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,690 | $65,730 |
| Ohio | $49,380 | $64,390 |
| Michigan | $49,270 | $64,920 |
| Nebraska | $48,980 | $62,400 |
| Montana | $48,740 | $60,880 |
| Texas | $48,620 | $65,750 |
| Iowa | $48,540 | $59,830 |
| Georgia | $48,170 | $65,920 |
| Kansas | $48,010 | $60,640 |
| North Carolina | $47,970 | $64,290 |
| Idaho | $47,970 | $61,170 |
| Florida | $47,880 | $64,670 |
| Indiana | $47,860 | $60,840 |
| Missouri | $47,800 | $62,160 |
| Nevada | $47,660 | $62,050 |
| Tennessee | $47,380 | $60,800 |
| New Mexico | $47,210 | $62,330 |
| South Dakota | $47,080 | $57,610 |
| Kentucky | $46,920 | $58,990 |
| South Carolina | $46,490 | $59,280 |
| Alabama | $45,670 | $57,500 |
| Oklahoma | $45,600 | $56,950 |
| Louisiana | $45,520 | $56,600 |
| West Virginia | $45,300 | $56,470 |
| Arkansas | $43,630 | $54,890 |
| Mississippi | $40,120 | $50,810 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,680 | $38,840 |
Which one should you use?
- To judge your own pay, compare it with the median for your job and city: it is what the typical person in your position earns.
- To set a salary target, look at the 25th and 75th percentiles around the median: they show the range for less and more experienced workers.
- To compare places, use the same measure on both sides, and adjust for prices with the BEA price parity on each city page.
- For budgets and totals (payroll, tax revenue), the average is the right figure because it adds up.
More salary guides
Median salary: questions
Is the median salary before or after taxes?
Before. BLS wages are gross pay. Use a paycheck calculator to see the take-home amount for your state.
Is median salary the same as median household income?
No. Median salary is the middle wage of individual workers. Median household income (Census) adds up every earner and every source of income in a household, so it is a different and usually higher figure.
Is the median salary a good salary?
It is the typical one: half of workers earn less. Whether it is enough depends on local prices; $50,980 buys much more in a low-cost metro than in an expensive one.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national, state and metro estimates.
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