Is there a specific salary I should hit by 30?

There is no universal target — income varies too much by industry, location, education, and career path. A teacher and a software engineer at the same age will earn vastly different amounts, and neither is 'wrong.' More useful than an absolute number: are you at or near the median for your specific role and market? Are your earnings growing year over year?

What is the average salary by age in the US?

According to BLS data, median weekly earnings for full-time workers in their late 20s are around $1,000–$1,100/week (~$52–$57k annually). By their mid-30s, median earnings rise to around $1,200–$1,300/week (~$62–$68k). These are all-occupation medians — professional and specialized roles typically earn more.

Why does my income seem low compared to what others my age earn?

Reported averages are easily distorted by high earners. The median (middle value) is more useful than the mean. Also, geography, industry, and education level create massive variation. Compare yourself to benchmarks for your specific role and location, not national all-occupation averages.

Should I be worried if I earn below average for my age?

Not necessarily. Income at a given age tells you almost nothing about where you will end up. Many high earners had late starts due to longer education, career changes, or time in lower-paying fields. Trajectory — whether your income is growing — matters more than snapshot comparisons to an age cohort.

What matters more than hitting a salary target by age?

Your savings rate and net worth trajectory matter far more than gross income at any given age. Someone earning $65,000 and saving 20% is accumulating wealth faster than someone earning $100,000 and saving 3%.

How Much Should I Be Making at My Age?

The Problem With “Should” When It Comes to Income

“How much should I be making?” assumes there is a prescribed answer. There is not — not one that applies to everyone. Income varies enormously by occupation, industry, geographic market, education, career trajectory, and timing.

What you can do is benchmark your earnings against meaningful comparison groups: same occupation, same market, similar experience level. That tells you something useful. An age cohort average with no other context tells you very little.

US Median Earnings by Age (All Occupations, Full-Time Workers)

These figures are drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics data and represent median weekly earnings for full-time workers.

Age Group	Median Weekly Earnings	Approx. Annual
16–24	~$730	~$38,000
25–34	~$1,060	~$55,000
35–44	~$1,280	~$67,000
45–54	~$1,290	~$67,000
55–64	~$1,200	~$62,000
65+	~$1,050	~$55,000

Note: These are all-occupation medians — many professional and skilled roles significantly exceed these figures

The peak earning years for most workers are the mid-40s to mid-50s, as experience and advancement accumulate. Earnings often plateau and may decline modestly approaching retirement age.

Why Industry and Occupation Matter Far More Than Age

The median salary for a 30-year-old varies dramatically by field:

Occupation (Age ~30, median estimate)	Approximate Annual
Software engineer	$110,000–$135,000
Registered nurse	$72,000–$85,000
Teacher (K–12)	$48,000–$58,000
Marketing specialist	$58,000–$72,000
Accountant	$65,000–$80,000
Retail manager	$45,000–$58,000
Electrician	$62,000–$75,000
Physician (early career)	$150,000–$200,000+

A 30-year-old teacher and a 30-year-old software engineer are not failing and succeeding respectively — they are in entirely different labor markets.

Income Growth Benchmarks by Career Stage

More actionable than absolute income is whether yours is growing appropriately for your career stage.

Early Career (22–30)

Expected pattern: Fast income growth as you establish skills and advance from entry-level to mid-level roles

Annual increases of 5–15% are common in growing fields
Job changes typically yield 10–20% gains
If income has been flat for 2+ years, this is unusual and worth investigating

Mid-Career (30–45)

Expected pattern: More moderate growth, higher absolute earnings, compensation includes bonuses and equity

Annual increases of 3–8% in established roles
Major jumps come from promotions or strategic job moves
Equity/bonus as a share of total comp typically increases

Peak Earnings (45–55)

Expected pattern: Highest base salary, often with leadership premium

More variation: high performers can continue growing sharply; others plateau
Value increasingly driven by expertise, network, management scope

Late Career (55–65)

Expected pattern: Earnings may level off or decline modestly as some choose reduced roles

The Net Worth Benchmark Is More Useful

Income is a flow — it tells you how much is coming in. Net worth is a stock — it tells you where you actually stand.

A widely referenced rule of thumb (Thomas Stanley, The Millionaire Next Door):

Expected net worth = Age × 0.112 × Gross annual income

For a 35-year-old earning $80,000:

35 × 0.112 × $80,000 = $313,600 expected net worth

Those above this threshold are “prodigious accumulators of wealth” (PAW); those far below it are “under-accumulators” (UAW) — regardless of income.

This formula is a rough guide, not a judgment. Someone who spent their 20s in medical school or who is paying off significant student loans will trail it for valid reasons. But net worth trajectory is a more complete picture than income at a given age.

What If You Feel Behind?

Feeling behind income benchmarks at your age is common — and the reasons vary:

Industry choice: Some fields simply pay less across the board
Geographic market: Living in a lower-cost area with lower wages
Career breaks: Time off for education, caregiving, illness, or transitions
Late career start: Grad school, trade school, or industry pivots delay peak earnings
Structural underpayment: You are below market for your role specifically

The actionable question: is your trajectory positive? An upward trajectory that started later will still compound over time. A flat trajectory at any income level is the more pressing concern.