The median household income in the United States, per the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, is approximately $80,734. (The Census Bureau’s separate annual Current Population Survey put median household income at $87,460 for 2025, released September 2026 — the two series use different methodologies and time windows, so expect them to differ.) The median tells only part of the story — where your income falls within the full distribution determines your real financial position.
US individual income percentiles (2024 Census/IPUMS CPS data, most recent available)
| Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| 10th | ~$10,264 |
| 25th | ~$28,000 |
| 50th (median) | ~$50,200 |
| 75th | ~$88,710 |
| 90th | ~$150,000 |
| 99th | ~$430,000+ |
Source: IPUMS CPS 2024 microdata — see the income percentile calculator for the full methodology and household-income figures.
How to Use Income Percentile Data
Your income percentile is most useful as context, not a judgment. A 45th-percentile income in rural Mississippi goes further than a 70th-percentile income in San Francisco. Cost-of-living adjustments matter as much as the raw rank.
Key Facts for 2026
- The federal minimum wage remains $7.25/hour ($15,080/year full-time).
- An individual income above $150,000 places you in the top 10% nationally.
- The top 1% threshold for individuals is approximately $430,000/year.
Income vs. Wealth
Income percentile measures your annual earnings flow. Net worth percentile measures accumulated assets. High earners with poor savings behavior can rank in the 80th income percentile but the 40th net worth percentile. See the Net Worth hub for wealth percentile data.
Calculators
- Income Percentile by Age Calculator: Compare Your Salary to Your Age Group (US)
- Income Percentile Calculator (US): See Your Salary Percentile by Income and Age
Income Statistics
- Average Income by Age in America (2026)
- Average Income by Education Level (2026)
- Average Income by Occupation (2026): Highest and Lowest Paying Jobs
- Average Income by Race and Ethnicity (2026)
- 2024 US Average Annual Income By State
- Economic Mobility by State: Where You
- Financial Stress Statistics: How Money Worries Affect Americans (2026)
- Gender Pay Gap in America (2026): The Full Data
- 2024 US Median Annual Income By State
- What Is Middle Class Income? (By State, 2026)
- Paycheck to Paycheck Statistics: How Many Americans Are Struggling? (2026)
- Federal Poverty Level 2026: $15,960 for One Person — Income Limits by Household Size
- Poverty in America: Statistics, Thresholds & Trends by State (2026)
- Poverty Rate by State 2026 — Full 50-State Ranking
- Real Wage Growth in America: Are You Keeping Up? (2026)
- The Shrinking Middle Class: Data & Trends (2026)
Wage Benchmarks
- Income Needed to Live Comfortably in Every State (2026)
- Minimum Wage by State 2026: Every State Rate From $7.25 to $17.50 Per Hour
- Top 1% Income in the USA: How Much You Need to Earn
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