How much should a 30-year-old make?

The median annual income for full-time workers at 30 is approximately $50,000. Workers with bachelor's degrees and 5-8 years of experience typically earn $55,000-$82,000. If you're in the $48,000-$65,000 range, you're right around average to above average for your age.

Is $70,000 a good salary at 30?

Yes — $70,000 at 30 puts you roughly in the top 25-28% for workers your age. It's a strong salary that allows for meaningful retirement contributions, savings, and some discretionary spending. At this income level, focus on growing to $85,000-$100,000 by your mid-30s.

What is the average salary for a 30-year-old?

The average (mean) salary for 30-year-olds is approximately $60,000-$65,000, but this is skewed by high earners. The median — what most 30-year-olds actually earn — is closer to $50,000. If you're above $50,000, you're ahead of at least half your peers.

Am I underearning at 30?

If you're earning under $40,000 full-time at 30, you're in the bottom quartile for your age group and may be underearning relative to your potential. But it depends enormously on your field, location, and career path. The more urgent question is whether your income is growing year over year.

How Much Should I Make at 30? Salary Benchmarks and What to Aim For

30 is the first real inflection point of your career. You have enough experience to make data-driven decisions about whether to stay put, switch fields, or push for management. Here’s what the income data actually says.

Income Benchmarks at 30

Percentile	Annual Income	What It Means
25th percentile	$35,000	Below median — service sector, lower-wage field
50th percentile (median)	$50,000	Average full-time worker at 30
75th percentile	$72,000	Above average — degree + experience or skilled trade
90th percentile	$100,000	Top earner — tech, medicine, finance, management

Source: BLS Current Population Survey (2024), full-time workers aged 25-34.

Quick Scorecard at 30

Your Annual Income	Rating
Under $35,000	Below average — significant gap to median
$35,000 – $49,999	Average (lower half)
$50,000 – $71,999	Above average — on a solid track
$72,000 – $99,999	Well above average — top quartile
$100,000+	Top 10%

Income by Education Level at 30

Education Level	Typical Salary at 30
High school diploma	$32,000 – $52,000
Associate degree / Trade cert	$44,000 – $64,000
Bachelor’s degree (arts/social science)	$46,000 – $64,000
Bachelor’s degree (business/accounting)	$58,000 – $78,000
Bachelor’s degree (engineering/CS)	$80,000 – $110,000
Bachelor’s degree (nursing/healthcare)	$64,000 – $88,000
Bachelor’s degree (finance)	$68,000 – $92,000
Master’s degree (MBA, MSN, etc.)	$68,000 – $105,000+
Law (early associate)	$80,000 – $160,000+
Medical resident	$60,000 – $75,000 (stipend phase)

Income by Major Field at 30

Field / Sector	Typical Salary Range
Retail / Food Service	$30,000 – $46,000
Administrative / Office	$40,000 – $58,000
Construction / Skilled Trades	$52,000 – $76,000
Healthcare (RN, Therapist, Tech)	$62,000 – $90,000
Education (Teacher, K-12)	$44,000 – $62,000
Finance / Accounting (CPA)	$64,000 – $90,000
Technology / Software Engineering	$88,000 – $125,000
Engineering	$74,000 – $100,000
Marketing / Digital	$48,000 – $72,000
Sales (B2B or tech)	$55,000 – $110,000
Government / Federal	$50,000 – $80,000

What “On Track” Looks Like at 30

At 30, income alone is not the full picture. Here’s the complete benchmark across key financial areas:

Category	Behind	On Track	Ahead
Annual income	Under $38,000	$50,000–$70,000	$80,000+
Emergency fund	Under $5,000	$12,000–$20,000	$25,000+
Retirement savings	Under $15,000	1x salary ($40K–$60K)	1.5x salary+
Student loan balance	Not reducing	Declining on plan	Paid off or nearly
Credit score	Under 660	680-740	750+

Expected income trajectory from 30:

Age 30: $50,000–$72,000
Age 35: $65,000–$95,000 (senior/specialist/management)
Age 40: $75,000–$120,000 (peak mid-career)
Age 45: $80,000–$130,000 (peak earnings years)

How to Push Your Income From 30

1. Pursue management or specialization. Between 30-35, workers make the most significant single leap in earnings — either into management (which adds 20-40% to base) or into senior specialist roles. Position yourself for this now.

2. Build a side income. At 30, you have real skills. Consulting, freelancing, or monetizing expertise can add $5,000-$30,000 per year without requiring a full career change.

3. Re-evaluate your company. If you’ve been with the same employer since your early or mid-20s, your salary has probably grown at 3-4% per year — well below what you could get by switching. A job change at 30 is often the single fastest income accelerator available.

4. Strengthen high-income credentials. CPA, PE license, CFA, PMP, cloud architect certifications, and advanced nursing roles all come with meaningful pay premiums — often $15,000-$40,000 over uncertified peers.

5. Negotiate your next role aggressively. Research market salaries on BLS.gov, LinkedIn Salary, and Glassdoor before any job offer. A prepared negotiation at 30 adds years of compounded higher earnings.

The Bottom Line

The median 30-year-old earns about $50,000 per year. That’s the baseline — not the ceiling. Most workers who are intentional about career growth at 30 can reach $70,000-$90,000 by 35. Your income at 30 is the launching pad, not the destination.