Average Salary by Age in 2026: Where Do You Stand?
Knowing the median salary for your age and experience level helps you negotiate and plan. Here are the real numbers.
Median annual salary by age group in the US (2025-2026 data): Ages 20-24: $33,000. Ages 25-34: $52,000. Ages 35-44: $62,000. Ages 45-54: $60,000. Ages 55-64: $58,000. Ages 65+: $52,000. Salaries peak between 35-54 and decline slightly as workers shift to less demanding roles or reduce hours before retirement.
Why Averages Are Misleading
The AVERAGE salary for 35-44 year-olds is $72,000 — significantly higher than the median of $62,000. This is because high earners (executives, surgeons, tech workers earning $200,000+) skew the average upward. The median is the better benchmark — it tells you what the middle person earns. If you earn more than the median for your age, you are doing better than half of Americans your age.
The Biggest Salary Lever
Changing jobs increases salary 10-20% on average, versus 3-5% for internal raises. Workers who change jobs every 2-3 years in their 20s and 30s earn 20-50% more over a decade than those who stay loyal. Once you reach a senior role you love, staying makes sense. Before that, strategic job changes are the fastest path to higher income.