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Create CVIf you're asking “what is a good salary in the US by age”, you're really trying to benchmark your income against the market—and understand whether you're underpaid, fairly paid, or ahead.
The truth is: a “good salary” isn’t a fixed number. It’s determined by age, experience level, industry, geography, and career trajectory. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t evaluate salary in isolation—they assess it relative to your market value at your career stage.
This guide breaks down realistic US salary benchmarks by age, including total compensation, what influences earnings at each stage, and how to position yourself to earn more.
Before diving into age-based breakdowns, here’s a national benchmark:
Median US Salary (All Ages): ~$60,000/year
Top 25% Income: $90,000+
Top 10% Income: $130,000+
Top 1% Income: $400,000+
From a compensation strategist perspective:
Good Salary: Above median for your age + location
Great Salary: Top 25% for your peer group
Average Salary: $30,000 – $45,000
Good Salary: $45,000 – $60,000
Top 10%: $70,000+
Typical Roles: Retail, internships, entry-level corporate roles, trades
Recruiter Insight:
At this stage, salary is less about maximizing pay and more about building leverage for future earnings.
Average Salary: $50,000 – $75,000
Good Salary: $75,000 – $110,000
To simplify comparisons:
Age 20s: $2,500 – $6,000/month
Age 30s: $4,000 – $9,000/month
Age 40s: $6,000 – $12,500/month
Age 50s: $7,000 – $15,000/month
Elite Salary: Top 10%+ or high total compensation (bonus + equity)
Top 10%: $120,000+
Typical Roles: Early to mid-level professionals (analysts, engineers, sales reps)
Key Driver: Skill specialization + switching companies
Reality:
Most salary growth happens here. Candidates who stay too long in one company often fall behind market rates.
Average Salary: $70,000 – $100,000
Good Salary: $100,000 – $150,000
Top 10%: $180,000+
Typical Roles: Managers, senior ICs, technical specialists
Compensation Structure Expands:
Base salary
Performance bonuses
Equity (in tech, startups, public companies)
Strategic Insight:
This is where total compensation (TC) becomes more important than base salary.
Average Salary: $80,000 – $110,000
Good Salary: $120,000 – $180,000
Top 10%: $200,000+
Typical Roles: Senior leadership, directors, experienced specialists
Key Differentiator:
Leadership responsibility and revenue impact drive pay at this stage.
Average Salary: $75,000 – $105,000
Good Salary: $110,000 – $170,000
Top 10%: $190,000+
Trend:
Some earnings plateau unless transitioning into executive or consulting roles.
Highly variable depending on:
Retirement status
Consulting work
Passive income streams
Good Salary: $60,000 – $120,000 (if still working)
Mostly base salary
Minimal bonuses
Rare equity (except startups/tech)
Base + bonus becomes standard
Equity begins in tech/finance roles
Significant bonuses (10–50% of base)
Equity can exceed base salary in top roles
Example (Age 40, Tech Manager):
Base: $150,000
Bonus: $30,000
RSUs: $70,000
Total Compensation: $250,000
Tech: Highest growth and ceiling
Finance: High bonuses
Healthcare: Stable, high mid-career earnings
Retail: Lower ceiling
San Francisco / NYC: +20% to +40% salaries
Midwest / South: Lower base, lower cost of living
Top earners switch every 2–4 years to reset market value.
High-demand skills = higher salaries:
AI / Machine Learning
Enterprise Sales
Cloud Engineering
Cybersecurity
The closer your role is to revenue generation:
Sales
Leadership
Product
…the higher your earning potential.
Use:
Salary benchmarks
Recruiter conversations
Competing offers
Internal raises: 3–5%
External offers: 15–40% increase
Focus on:
Bonus
Equity
Sign-on bonus
Focus on skills tied to:
Revenue
Scalability
Technical complexity
Prioritizing comfort over growth
Staying too long in low-paying roles
Not negotiating aggressively
Failing to switch companies
Not moving into leadership
Ignoring equity compensation
Entry-Level: $40K
Mid-Level: $80K
Senior: $120K
Leadership: $180K+
Executive: $250K+
Top 1% Path:
A good salary in the US isn’t just about hitting a number—it’s about:
Being above your peer group
Growing consistently over time
Maximizing total compensation
From a recruiter’s perspective, the highest earners aren’t just more experienced—they are strategic about career moves, negotiation, and skill positioning.
If you want to earn more, don’t just ask “what is a good salary”—ask:
“How do I position myself to be in the top 10% for my age?”
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