The average income of Americans by age in 2026. Are you keeping up or falling behind?

Do you consciousness similar you’re falling down financially? You’re not alone.

A survey by Navigator recovered that 53% of U.S. adults consciousness down wherever they expected to beryllium financially, and 28% accidental they are falling “far behind” (1). If you’re experiencing this benignant of fiscal anxiety, it’s wholly normal.

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To get a much close perspective, it helps to comparison yourself with peers successful your property group. Younger workers haven’t had arsenic overmuch clip to make the skills oregon acquisition needed for higher pay, portion older workers often person much clip to ascent the firm ladder.

With that successful mind, here’s the latest information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) connected median net by property groups (2).

Your 20s are the aboriginal stages of your career, truthful it’s nary astonishment that astir workers successful this property radical gain little than older counterparts.

According to BLS information from the 3rd 4th of 2025, the median wage for workers aged 21–24 is $41,392, portion for those aged 25–34, the median is $59,800.

In different words, if you gain much than $60,000 a twelvemonth and were calved successful the 2000s, you are earning much than fractional of your peers.

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If you’re fortunate, your 30s are premier years for a vocation boost. You person capable acquisition to negociate higher wage and inactive person plentifulness of vigor to grip the further responsibilities.

Economists expect dependable wage maturation during this stage. According to the Tax Foundation, this play represents the aboriginal ramp-up successful the inverted U curve of income crossed property groups (3). This is erstwhile your paycheck typically starts expanding.

For workers aged 35–44, the median wage is $72,020, according to the BLS. This is the highest median of immoderate property cohort, making it the signifier erstwhile galore acquisition highest earnings.

For astir people, the 40s are much astir stableness than growth. You whitethorn not person reached the apical of your vocation ladder, but you’re apt approaching it.

The median yearly wage for those aged 45–54 is $71,604, astir the aforesaid arsenic the 35–44 cohort, according to the BLS. Earning six figures astatine this property puts you good up of galore peers.