Gitnux/Report 2026

Salary Statistics

See how pay shifts when you move just one rung up education or experience, from $35,360 for high school graduates without a diploma to $132,270 for software developers, plus what happens to weekly earnings when gender and race enter the picture, such as women at 84% of men’s median pay. You also get the freshest compensation context by geography and industry, including the May 2023 IT median of $104,420 and the highest metro premiums like Washington Arlington at $90,120.
118Statistics
5Sections
8mRead
26 days agoUpdated
Salary Statistics
Aisha OkonkwoWritten by Aisha Okonkwo·Edited by Henrik Dahl·Fact-checked by Abigail Foster
Last verified Jun 14, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Dec 2026
Pay outcomes swung sharply between the highest and lowest brackets in the most recent dataset, with the US median wage rising to $108,300 for doctoral degree holders while high school graduates without a diploma sit at $35,360. Age, education, and even metro location pull wages in different directions, and the gaps are just as striking for work and family status as they are for credentials. By the end, you will have a clearer sense of what actually drives a paycheck, not just what it averages.

Key Takeaways

  • Median wage for high school graduates without diploma $35,360 US 2023.
  • High school diploma holders median wage $42,680 annually US.
  • Some college no degree median salary $48,500 US 2023.
  • California state median annual wage was $66,990 in May 2023.
  • New York median wage reached $70,650 yearly May 2023 US.
  • Washington DC area median salary $82,430 in May 2023.
  • The median annual wage for workers in the information technology industry in the US was $104,420 as of May 2023.
  • The average salary for finance and insurance sector employees in the US reached $82,150 median in May 2023.
  • Healthcare and social assistance industry median annual wage stood at $42,340 in the US for May 2023.
  • Median annual wage for software developers in US was $132,270 May 2023.
  • Physicians and surgeons median pay $239,200 yearly US 2023 BLS.
  • Dentists median salary $170,910 in US May 2023.
  • The median annual wage for all occupations in the US increased by 4.6% from May 2022 to May 2023.
  • US average hourly earnings rose 4.1% year-over-year in December 2023 per BLS.
  • Real median household income in the US fell 2.3% to $74,580 in 2022 from 2021.

In 2023 the US median pay varied sharply by education, with advanced degrees and tech roles earning far more.

Related reading

01 · Category

Demographic Salaries23 stats

01
Median wage for high school graduates without diploma $35,360US 2023.
02
High school diploma holders median wage $42,680annually US.
03
Some college no degree median salary $48,500US 2023.
04
Associate degree median wage $59,200yearly US BLS.
05
Bachelor's degree holders averaged $75,400median US 2023.
06
Master's degree median salary $92,100annually US.
07
Doctoral degree median wage $108,300US 2023 BLS.
08
Professional degree median pay $110,200yearly US.
09
Women earned 84% of men's median weekly earnings in 2023 US.
10
Black workers median weekly earnings $992vs $1,256 white in 2023.
11
Hispanic median weekly pay $926in US 2023 BLS.
12
Asian workers highest median $1,505weekly US 2023.
13
Workers aged 25-34 median wage $62,400US 2023.
14
35-44 age group median salary $72,800annually US.
15
45-54 workers median wage $78,500US 2023 BLS.
16
55-64 age median pay $68,900yearly US.
17
Less than 1 year experience median wage $40,200US Payscale.
18
1-4 years experience average $52,300median US 2023.
19
5-9 years experience median salary $65,700US.
20
10-19 years median wage $80,400annually US 2023.
21
20+ years experience average $95,600median US.
22
Married men median weekly earnings $1,345vs single $1,000 in 2023.
23
Full-time mothers median $60,200vs fathers $95,400 US 2023.
Interpretation

Demographic Salaries Interpretation

Education remains a powerful but uneven escalator, carrying you higher while also revealing the stubborn cracks of gender, race, and privilege in every step.

02 · Category

Geographic Salaries20 stats

01
California state median annual wage was $66,990in May 2023.
02
New York median wage reached $70,650yearly May 2023 US.
03
Washington DC area median salary $82,430in May 2023.
04
Massachusetts median annual wage $70,790US May 2023.
05
Texas median wage was $52,330in May 2023 BLS.
06
Florida state workers median salary $49,210yearly 2023.
07
San Francisco metro median wage $84,760May 2023.
08
New York City metro area median $72,980annually 2023.
09
Seattle metro median salary $76,450US May 2023.
10
Boston metro wages averaged $74,210median 2023.
11
Washington-Arlington metro median $90,120May 2023.
12
Los Angeles metro median wage $63,360yearly US 2023.
13
Chicago metro area median salary $60,990May 2023.
14
Dallas metro median wage $57,210annually 2023.
15
Atlanta metro median $58,760US May 2023.
16
UK London average salary £45,000 in 2023 ONS.
17
Germany national median wage €45,800 yearly 2022.
18
Switzerland median salary CHF 80,000 annually 2023.
19
Australia Sydney median wage AUD 85,000 2023.
20
Canada Toronto average salary CAD 70,000 yearly 2023.
Interpretation

Geographic Salaries Interpretation

The West Coast and Northeast seem to be winning the paycheck popularity contest, while the South is politely asking for a raise and the crown for truly eye-watering salaries goes to Washington, D.C., where a federal paycheck apparently buys you a very expensive metro ride.

03 · Category

Industry Salaries29 stats

01
The median annual wage for workers in the information technology industry in the US was $104,420as of May 2023.
02
The average salary for finance and insurance sector employees in the US reached $82,150median in May 2023.
03
Healthcare and social assistance industry median annual wage stood at $42,340in the US for May 2023.
04
Manufacturing sector workers had a median wage of $50,470annually in the US as per May 2023 BLS data.
05
Retail trade industry median salary was $35,450per year in the US in May 2023.
06
Professional, scientific, and technical services sector averaged $82,910median wage in US May 2023.
07
Construction industry median annual earnings were $52,880for US workers in May 2023.
08
Educational services median wage hit $54,200yearly in the US per May 2023 data.
09
Accommodation and food services sector had $32,390median salary in US May 2023.
10
Transportation and warehousing industry median was $49,280annually in US 2023.
11
Utilities sector employees earned a median $86,660per year in US May 2023.
12
Wholesale trade median wage was $68,810in the US for May 2023.
13
Arts, entertainment, and recreation industry averaged $38,450median in US 2023.
14
Mining, quarrying, and oil/gas extraction had $89,040median salary US May 2023.
15
Administrative and support services sector median was $39,160yearly US 2023.
16
Real estate and rental/leasing industry median wage $57,910in US May 2023.
17
Management of companies median salary reached $108,160annually US 2023.
18
Waste management services had $50,970median wage in US May 2023.
19
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting median $35,490US May 2023.
20
Other services (except public admin) median $45,670yearly US 2023.
21
In the tech industry, software publishing firms paid median $127,030in US 2023.
22
Pharmaceutical manufacturing median wage $88,550US May 2023.
23
Motion picture/video industries averaged $72,910median US 2023.
24
Legal services sector median $84,250yearly US May 2023.
25
Accounting services had $79,910median wage US 2023.
26
Architectural services median $82,840in US May 2023.
27
Computer systems design median $104,420US 2023.
28
Management consulting services averaged $98,760median US May 2023.
29
UK finance sector average salary was £62,000 in 2023 per ONS.
Interpretation

Industry Salaries Interpretation

While Silicon Valley's coders chase six-figure dreams and Wall Street's financiers count their bonuses, the real national pastime is a sobering game of "who's heating the house and who's just microwaving the ramen," with the hospitality and retail sectors often left holding the cold cup noodles.

More related reading

04 · Category

Occupational Salaries27 stats

01
Median annual wage for software developers in US was $132,270May 2023.
02
Physicians and surgeons median pay $239,200yearly US 2023 BLS.
03
Dentists median salary $170,910in US May 2023.
04
Chief executives earned median $206,680annually US 2023.
05
Nurse anesthetists median wage $212,650US May 2023.
06
Computer and information systems managers $169,510median US 2023.
07
Actuaries median pay $120,000yearly US May 2023.
08
Airline pilots median salary $171,210in US 2023 BLS.
09
Financial managers earned $156,100median annually US May 2023.
10
Marketing managers median wage $156,580US 2023.
11
Lawyers median salary $145,760yearly US May 2023.
12
Sales managers averaged $135,160median US 2023 BLS.
13
IT managers median pay $169,510in US May 2023.
14
Pharmacists earned $136,030median annually US 2023.
15
Optometrists median wage $131,860US May 2023.
16
Physical therapists median salary $99,710yearly US 2023.
17
Occupational therapists averaged $96,370median US May 2023.
18
Speech-language pathologists median pay $89,290US 2023.
19
Registered nurses earned $86,070median annually US May 2023.
20
Accountants and auditors median wage $81,220US 2023 BLS.
21
Human resources managers $136,350median US May 2023.
22
Civil engineers median salary $95,890yearly US 2023.
23
Mechanical engineers averaged $99,510median US May 2023.
24
Electrical engineers median pay $106,950US 2023.
25
Data scientists earned $108,020median annually US May 2023.
26
Web developers median wage $84,960US 2023 BLS.
27
Graphic designers averaged $61,300median US May 2023.
Interpretation

Occupational Salaries Interpretation

While your coding skills might help you avoid a root canal, the data confirms that navigating a patient's airway or the corporate tax code still pays better than navigating your own imposter syndrome.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Salary Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/salary-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Salary Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/salary-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Salary Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/salary-statistics.

Sources & references

17 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

bls.govons.gov.ukcensus.govfred.stlouisfed.orgequilar.comepi.orgaha.orgpewresearch.orgnaceweb.orgflexjobs.comstatista.comwtwco.comdestatis.defso.admin.chabs.gov.austatcan.gc.capayscale.com