Income by Age
U.S. income broken down by age bracket — both individual earners and full households — sourced from the Census Bureau's 2023 Current Population Survey.
Individual income by age
Personal earnings of all U.S. workers age 15+. Full-time year-round workers earn ~10–20% more than the medians shown.
| Age bracket | Median | Mean (avg.) |
|---|---|---|
| 15–24 | $22,000 | $28,500 |
| 25–34 | $48,000 | $62,400 |
| 35–44 | $60,000 | $86,700 |
| 45–54 | $60,000 | $92,300 |
| 55–64 | $54,000 | $82,500 |
| 65 or more | $36,000 | $62,900 |
Household income by age
Total household income (all earners combined) by age of householder. Peaks in the 45–54 bracket, then declines as households retire.
| Age of householder | Median | Mean (avg.) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | $52,800 | $68,900 |
| 25–34 | $85,780 | $109,400 |
| 35–44 | $103,260 | $137,800 |
| 45–54 | $110,700 | $152,400 |
| 55–64 | $90,640 | $132,000 |
| 65 or more | $54,710 | $85,700 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (ASEC), 2023 income year (Report P60-282, released September 2024). Figures in nominal U.S. dollars.
Why median, not average
Mean (average) household income is roughly 1.4× the median. The gap is driven by very high-income households dragging the average upward. The median is the household exactly in the middle — half earn more, half earn less — and it's the right number for personal benchmarking.
For individuals, the gap is even wider in the older brackets, where a small share of late-career executives and successful business owners pull the mean far above the typical earner.
What income by age does (and doesn't) tell you
It tells you: is your earnings curve on track
Income typically grows fastest from 25 to 45, plateaus through 54, then declines. If your income is materially below the median for your bracket, that's a signal — often the highest-leverage thing you can change.
It doesn't tell you: are you wealthy
Income is a flow; net worth is the score. Two earners at the same income can have wildly different financial trajectories depending on savings rate, debt, and housing costs.
It doesn't tell you: when you can stop working
Retirement readiness depends on what you keep, not what you earn. PeakWorth converts your income into a projected FI age based on your real spending and saving.
See what your income compounds into.
PeakWorth projects every year between now and retirement, using your real income, spending, and goals. Free 14-day trial.
Project mine nowPeakWorth provides educational projections, not financial advice. We are not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, tax preparer, or attorney. Consult a licensed professional before making major financial decisions. Read full disclosures