Average Salary in USA by State (2026 Guide)

An average salary in the USA is calculated based on per day salary based on the number of working days. The average salaries in the USA are influenced by different factors. Check out the average salaries in USA based on different parameters and US states in this article.

When people ask about the average salary in the United States, they’re usually looking for a simple number. The reality, shaped by millions of jobs across hundreds of occupations, is more complex and more interesting. Using the latest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), here’s what the data actually tells us is that the salaries have increased by some percent only keeping all factors in check.

The average salary in the USA in 2025 was USD 67,920. While in 2024 accounted for around USD 59,640, while the average weekly USA job salary stood at USD 1,070 (INR 89.2 K). The highest average salary for 2023 was recorded at USD 74,984 for a particular set of working-class people. Though the salaries have decreased over time yet, some of the top 10 highest paying jobs are in USA. Let us discuss in detail the average salary in the USA for 2025 and look at state-wise average pay too.

How is Average Salary for USA Calculated

Official US salary data primarily comes from BLS and US Census Bureau. Both of them are government sources. 

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. It collects data from employers to estimate wages for over 800 occupations.

2. US Census Bureau uses the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the American Community Survey (ACS). These are household surveys that capture "money income," which includes pre-tax cash income but excludes non-cash benefits like health insurance

Coming to actual calculation for average salaries in USA, here is how the data is treated:

There is no end to the calculation here, there are also some key factors that are taken care of, and these are:

• Employment Status

• Education Level

• Geography

• Demographics

Average Salary in USA Based on US States 2025

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary in the United States in 2025 is USD 67,920. This figure represents the annual mean wage across all occupations, from entry-level service roles to highly specialised engineering and management positions. It’s an important benchmark, but it’s not the same as what most workers earn. The BLS figure is a mean, not a median. That distinction matters.

High-paying occupations such as engineers, managers, and specialised technical roles pull the average upward, even though they employ a relatively small share of the workforce. Meanwhile, some of the largest occupations in the US economy pay far less than the national average whether you study in USA or if you don't.

This creates a wide gap between the statistical average and everyday earnings.

Top Job Roles that Earn Above the US Average?

There are multiple job roles that earn higher than the national average. These job roles show the average salaries based on the collective earnings in the US in the previous years. Several occupational groups significantly exceed the national average salary:

• Architecture and engineering occupations: USD 103,980
• General and operations managers: USD 133,120
• Computer hardware engineers: USD 156,770
• Petroleum engineers: USD 153,560
• CEOs: USD 262,930
• Airline Pilots & Copilots: USD 280,570
• Nurse Anaesthetists: USD 201,000
• Financial Managers: USD 152,000

These roles require advanced education or specialised skills and account for a smaller portion of total employment, but their high wages strongly influence the national average. So those who graduate from Ivy League schools, can get higher ROI and better salaries in comparison to tier 2 or 3 universities.

Factors Affecting Average Salaries in USA  

To discuss in detail the average salaries in USA several factors affect them. The average American job salary calculation is based on the following parameters: 

• Those who are 40-55 year-old, will generally have higher salaries. Men aged 45-54 had the highest annual earnings at USD 72,696 (INR 60.6 L), while women earned USD 56,472 (INR 47.1 L) between the ages of 34 and 55. 
• The higher the education from US universities, higher the average pay in USA. The age group of 25 or higher but without a high school degree recorded a median earning of USD 35,984 (INR 30 L). Whereas, USD 45,032 (INR 37.5 L) was reported for recent high school graduates. Workers with a bachelor's earnt USD 81,432 (INR 67.9 L) annually on average. 
• Median salary of Black men was USD 47,944 (INR 40 L), as compared to white men at USD 61,984 (INR 51.7 L). On the other hand, Black women, as compared to white women, earned around USD 43,160 (INR 36 L) and USD 51,480 (INR 42.9 L), respectively. Hispanic and Asian individuals earned USD 44,772 (INR 37.3 L) and USD 74,984 (INR 62.5 L), respectively. 
• Based on the number of working days, average American companies give 25% paid time off based on holidays for an individual. Thus, this is also a major factor contributing to the analysis of the average annual salary of working individuals in the USA.
• Also, it is essential to note that MBBS (MD) in USA is an expensive course, but has the highest ROI. Some of the highest paid specialisations include Neurologists. However, salary of cardiologists in USA are at par with other top paid jobs in the world.

There are other contributing factors which influence the computation of average annual salary in the USA but they are categorised under miscellaneous reasons only. The salaries are computed based on actual presented data and not on other findings. 

Where Do Most Workers Actually Work in US?

Majority of the salaried professionals or graduates in US can be found in different areas. However, there are certain areas that have remained unbeaten for decades now for offering lucrative salaries to applicants. Some of the following top paying states of US include:

• Massachusetts
• New York
• Washington
• California
• New Jersey
• Connecticut
• Maryland

Majority of these areas offer specialised job roles to fresh international graduates or the existing ones. Most of the employees work in US across various job roles that are very highly paid. Many of the largest occupations in the US employ millions of people, but pay below the average salary:

• Retail salespersons: USD 37,150
• Cashiers: USD 31,810
• Fast food and counter workers: USD 31,350
• Home health and personal care aides: USD 34,990
• Janitors and cleaners: USD 37,460 

These jobs form the backbone of daily economic activity, yet their wages highlight why the average salary often feels disconnected from lived experience.

Before going ahead and working on OPT in USA, know your options and best paying areas and job roles. Also, it is essential to note that, after pursuing STEM education courses, opportunities increase and so does the average salary in the US. So if you also have an interest in STEM courses, go ahead and apply for them to secure a good-paying and equally rewarding career in USA.