"Am I underpaid?" is the most common question I get. The answer is always: compared to what?
Compared to the national average? Maybe. Compared to your rent? Probably. Compared to your college roommate who became a dentist? Definitely.
Here are the actual numbers for 2026.
| Age Group | Median Personal Income | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|
| 20-24 | $32,000 | $45,000 |
| 25-34 | $48,000 | $72,000 |
| 35-44 | $58,000 | $88,000 |
| 45-54 | $62,000 | $95,000 |
| 55-64 | $58,000 | $82,000 |
If you're 30 making $60k, you're above median. If you're 45 making $50k, you're below. Context matters.
The same salary buys completely different lives depending on your zip code.
| City | Comfortable Single Income | Comfortable Family Income |
|---|---|---|
| Midwest small city | $45,000 | $70,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $55,000 | $90,000 |
| Denver, CO | $65,000 | $110,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $80,000 | $140,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $110,000 | $200,000 |
| New York, NY | $95,000 | $180,000 |
"Comfortable" means: rent/mortgage under 30% of income, ability to save 15%, occasional travel, no paycheck-to-paycheck stress. Not luxury. Just not anxious.
Salary is only half the equation. A $70k job with full health coverage, 6% 401k match, and 4 weeks PTO beats an $85k job with crap benefits and 60-hour weeks.
Also: two people making $60k each with no kids live very differently than one person making $120k with three kids and $80k in student loans.
So instead of asking "is this a good salary?" ask:
If yes to all four, your salary is good enough. If not, it's time to negotiate, switch jobs, or move.
See what your hourly wage means annually, or what your salary breaks down to per hour.
Use the Hourly to Salary Calculator →In most of the US, yes. In San Francisco or Manhattan, it's middle class. In rural Ohio, you're doing very well. Location is everything.
For budgeting, no. Bonuses aren't guaranteed. For negotiating your next job, yes — total comp matters. But don't buy a house based on bonus money.