Your salary’s meaning depends entirely on what others in your field earn. The calculator below uses BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 data to show exactly where your pay ranks among US workers in the same occupation — and how it compares to all American workers nationally. The BLS publishes wage percentiles for 800+ occupations; this calculator covers 65 of the most common.
📊 BLS Wage Distribution for Your Occupation (2024)
🇺🇸 vs. All US Workers (National Percentile)
How BLS Wage Percentiles Work
The Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys hundreds of thousands of employers to produce the OEWS — the most authoritative source of occupational wage data in the US. For each occupation, BLS reports:
| Percentile | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10th | 10% of workers in this occupation earn below this amount |
| 25th | 25% earn below (entry-level to early career) |
| 50th (median) | Half earn below, half above — the best single benchmark |
| 75th | 75% earn below (experienced / senior level) |
| 90th | Top 10% of earners in this occupation |
BLS caps reported wages at $239,200/year — actual top-end compensation in some high-earning occupations (surgeons, chief executives) is higher.
Important caveat: These are base wages and salaries. Bonuses, equity (stock options/RSUs), commissions, and benefits are not captured. In tech, finance, and sales roles, total compensation can be 20–100%+ above base salary.
Highest-Paying Occupations by BLS Median (2024)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | $239,200+ | $182,000 | $239,200+ |
| Physician (General/Family) | $214,000+ | $95,000 | $239,200+ |
| Chief Executive | $210,000+ | $90,000 | $239,200+ |
| Airline Pilot | $174,000 | $74,000 | $239,200+ |
| Dentist | $178,000 | $92,000 | $239,200+ |
| Lawyer | $145,000 | $64,000 | $239,200+ |
| IT Manager | $159,000 | $90,000 | $239,200+ |
| Financial Manager | $139,000 | $75,000 | $239,200+ |
| Software Developer | $132,000 | $75,000 | $213,000 |
| Pharmacist | $134,000 | $102,000 | $170,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. Values at or above BLS reporting cap shown as $239,200+.
Most Common Occupations — Where the Median Is
| Occupation | Median | Entry (25th) | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $90,000 | $75,000 | $108,000 |
| Accountant | $80,000 | $60,000 | $107,000 |
| High School Teacher | $67,000 | $53,000 | $85,000 |
| Police Officer | $73,000 | $57,000 | $96,000 |
| Marketing Specialist | $67,000 | $51,000 | $92,000 |
| Electrician | $63,000 | $52,000 | $82,000 |
| Truck Driver | $62,000 | $50,000 | $78,000 |
| Customer Service Rep | $43,000 | $35,000 | $55,000 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,000 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
Why National Medians Don’t Tell the Full Story
Geographic variation is the biggest factor. BLS national figures average all US states and metro areas. The same occupation can pay dramatically different wages by location:
- A software developer in San Francisco earns ~$175,000+ median vs. ~$105,000 in rural Tennessee
- A registered nurse in California earns ~$130,000 vs. ~$65,000 in Alabama
- An electrician in New York earns ~$90,000 vs. ~$52,000 in Mississippi
What to do: Use BLS metro-level OEWS data (bls.gov/oes) to look up your specific metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Your state’s labor statistics office also publishes local wage surveys.
Industry matters too. The same job title can pay very differently across industries. A software developer in finance earns more than one in education. An HR manager in tech earns more than one in retail.
How to Use Your Percentile in Salary Negotiations
If you’re below the 50th percentile for your occupation nationally, and especially below 50th for your metro area, you have strong data to support a raise request:
- Print the BLS source — the OEWS is a government publication; lenders, employers, and courts treat it as authoritative. Pull the exact table for your SOC code.
- Use metro-level data if available — national data may understate the local market, which is actually more useful for a local employer.
- Anchor with your percentile — “Based on BLS data, the median wage for this occupation in our metro area is $X. I’m currently at $Y, which is the Zth percentile. Given my [X years of experience / specific achievements], I’d like to discuss moving to [$target].”
- Include total compensation — if your employer provides above-average benefits, retirement contributions, or equity, factor those in honestly.
Related Calculators
- Income Percentile Calculator — All US Workers
- Net Worth Percentile Calculator
- Retirement Savings Percentile by Age
- Savings Rate Percentile Calculator
- Credit Score Percentile Calculator
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