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
Demographic Salaries
1Median wage for high school graduates without diploma $35,360 US 2023.
Verified
2High school diploma holders median wage $42,680 annually US.
Verified
3Some college no degree median salary $48,500 US 2023.
Verified
4Associate degree median wage $59,200 yearly US BLS.
Verified
5Bachelor's degree holders averaged $75,400 median US 2023.
Directional
6Master's degree median salary $92,100 annually US.
Directional
7Doctoral degree median wage $108,300 US 2023 BLS.
Directional
8Professional degree median pay $110,200 yearly US.
Verified
9Women earned 84% of men's median weekly earnings in 2023 US.
Single source
10Black workers median weekly earnings $992 vs $1,256 white in 2023.
Directional
11Hispanic median weekly pay $926 in US 2023 BLS.
Verified
12Asian workers highest median $1,505 weekly US 2023.
Single source
13Workers aged 25-34 median wage $62,400 US 2023.
Verified
1435-44 age group median salary $72,800 annually US.
Verified
1545-54 workers median wage $78,500 US 2023 BLS.
Verified
1655-64 age median pay $68,900 yearly US.
Verified
17Less than 1 year experience median wage $40,200 US Payscale.
Verified
181-4 years experience average $52,300 median US 2023.
Directional
195-9 years experience median salary $65,700 US.
Verified
2010-19 years median wage $80,400 annually US 2023.
Verified
2120+ years experience average $95,600 median US.
Verified
22Married men median weekly earnings $1,345 vs single $1,000 in 2023.
Single source
23Full-time mothers median $60,200 vs fathers $95,400 US 2023.
Verified
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.
More related reading
Geographic Salaries
1California state median annual wage was $66,990 in May 2023.
Verified
2New York median wage reached $70,650 yearly May 2023 US.
Directional
3Washington DC area median salary $82,430 in May 2023.
Verified
4Massachusetts median annual wage $70,790 US May 2023.
Verified
5Texas median wage was $52,330 in May 2023 BLS.
Verified
6Florida state workers median salary $49,210 yearly 2023.
Verified
7San Francisco metro median wage $84,760 May 2023.
Single source
8New York City metro area median $72,980 annually 2023.
Verified
9Seattle metro median salary $76,450 US May 2023.
Verified
10Boston metro wages averaged $74,210 median 2023.
Directional
11Washington-Arlington metro median $90,120 May 2023.
Verified
12Los Angeles metro median wage $63,360 yearly US 2023.
Directional
13Chicago metro area median salary $60,990 May 2023.
Verified
14Dallas metro median wage $57,210 annually 2023.
Verified
15Atlanta metro median $58,760 US May 2023.
Verified
16UK London average salary £45,000 in 2023 ONS.
Single source
17Germany national median wage €45,800 yearly 2022.
Verified
18Switzerland median salary CHF 80,000 annually 2023.
Single source
19Australia Sydney median wage AUD 85,000 2023.
Verified
20Canada Toronto average salary CAD 70,000 yearly 2023.
Verified
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.
More related reading
Industry Salaries
1The median annual wage for workers in the information technology industry in the US was $104,420 as of May 2023.
Verified
2The average salary for finance and insurance sector employees in the US reached $82,150 median in May 2023.
Verified
3Healthcare and social assistance industry median annual wage stood at $42,340 in the US for May 2023.
Directional
4Manufacturing sector workers had a median wage of $50,470 annually in the US as per May 2023 BLS data.
Verified
5Retail trade industry median salary was $35,450 per year in the US in May 2023.
Verified
6Professional, scientific, and technical services sector averaged $82,910 median wage in US May 2023.
Single source
7Construction industry median annual earnings were $52,880 for US workers in May 2023.
Verified
8Educational services median wage hit $54,200 yearly in the US per May 2023 data.
Verified
9Accommodation and food services sector had $32,390 median salary in US May 2023.
Verified
10Transportation and warehousing industry median was $49,280 annually in US 2023.
Directional
11Utilities sector employees earned a median $86,660 per year in US May 2023.
Single source
12Wholesale trade median wage was $68,810 in the US for May 2023.
Single source
13Arts, entertainment, and recreation industry averaged $38,450 median in US 2023.
Directional
14Mining, quarrying, and oil/gas extraction had $89,040 median salary US May 2023.
Verified
15Administrative and support services sector median was $39,160 yearly US 2023.
Directional
16Real estate and rental/leasing industry median wage $57,910 in US May 2023.
Verified
17Management of companies median salary reached $108,160 annually US 2023.
Verified
18Waste management services had $50,970 median wage in US May 2023.
Verified
19Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting median $35,490 US May 2023.
Directional
20Other services (except public admin) median $45,670 yearly US 2023.
Verified
21In the tech industry, software publishing firms paid median $127,030 in US 2023.
Verified
22Pharmaceutical manufacturing median wage $88,550 US May 2023.
Directional
23Motion picture/video industries averaged $72,910 median US 2023.
Single source
24Legal services sector median $84,250 yearly US May 2023.
Verified
25Accounting services had $79,910 median wage US 2023.
Single source
26Architectural services median $82,840 in US May 2023.
Single source
27Computer systems design median $104,420 US 2023.
Verified
28Management consulting services averaged $98,760 median US May 2023.
Single source
29UK finance sector average salary was £62,000 in 2023 per ONS.
Verified
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
Occupational Salaries
1Median annual wage for software developers in US was $132,270 May 2023.
Verified
2Physicians and surgeons median pay $239,200 yearly US 2023 BLS.
Single source
3Dentists median salary $170,910 in US May 2023.
Verified
4Chief executives earned median $206,680 annually US 2023.
Verified
5Nurse anesthetists median wage $212,650 US May 2023.
Verified
6Computer and information systems managers $169,510 median US 2023.
Single source
7Actuaries median pay $120,000 yearly US May 2023.
Single source
8Airline pilots median salary $171,210 in US 2023 BLS.
Single source
9Financial managers earned $156,100 median annually US May 2023.
Verified
10Marketing managers median wage $156,580 US 2023.
Verified
11Lawyers median salary $145,760 yearly US May 2023.
Verified
12Sales managers averaged $135,160 median US 2023 BLS.
Verified
13IT managers median pay $169,510 in US May 2023.
Directional
14Pharmacists earned $136,030 median annually US 2023.
Verified
15Optometrists median wage $131,860 US May 2023.
Single source
16Physical therapists median salary $99,710 yearly US 2023.
Single source
17Occupational therapists averaged $96,370 median US May 2023.
Verified
18Speech-language pathologists median pay $89,290 US 2023.
Verified
19Registered nurses earned $86,070 median annually US May 2023.
Verified
20Accountants and auditors median wage $81,220 US 2023 BLS.
Verified
21Human resources managers $136,350 median US May 2023.
Verified
22Civil engineers median salary $95,890 yearly US 2023.
Verified
23Mechanical engineers averaged $99,510 median US May 2023.
Verified
24Electrical engineers median pay $106,950 US 2023.
Verified
25Data scientists earned $108,020 median annually US May 2023.
Verified
26Web developers median wage $84,960 US 2023 BLS.
Verified
27Graphic designers averaged $61,300 median US May 2023.
Verified
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.
More related reading
Salary Trends
1The median annual wage for all occupations in the US increased by 4.6% from May 2022 to May 2023.
Verified
2US average hourly earnings rose 4.1% year-over-year in December 2023 per BLS.
Verified
3Real median household income in the US fell 2.3% to $74,580 in 2022 from 2021.
Verified
4Wage growth for production and nonsupervisory employees was 4.0% in 2023 US.
Single source
5CEO pay in S&P 500 companies averaged $16.3 million in 2022, up 12% from prior year.
Verified
6Minimum wage workers' real wages declined 2.4% from 2021 to 2022 in US.
Single source
7US median weekly earnings for full-time workers rose 4.3% in Q4 2023.
Verified
8Healthcare wages increased 4.8% from 2022 to 2023 in the US.
Verified
9Inflation-adjusted wages stagnated for bottom 50% earners 2019-2023 US.
Directional
10Entry-level salaries rose 6.1% in 2023 for college grads US.
Verified
11Gender pay gap narrowed to 16% in US full-time workers 2023.
Verified
12Remote work premium declined from 20% to 8% salary boost 2021-2023.
Directional
13Union workers' wages grew 4.7% vs 3.9% non-union in 2023 US.
Single source
14Gig economy average hourly pay reached $28 in 2023 US.
Single source
15Executive bonuses increased 15% in 2023 for Fortune 500 firms.
Verified
16High school grads' wages up 3.2% nominally 2022-2023 US.
Verified
17Bachelor's degree holders saw 3.8% wage growth 2022-2023.
Verified
18Advanced degree wages rose 4.2% in 2023 US BLS.
Verified
19Overall US wage inflation cooled to 3.9% by end-2023.
Single source
Salary Trends Interpretation
While many workers celebrated modest raises that barely outpaced inflation—if at all—the C-suite enjoyed a lavish twelve percent pay hike, proving that the rising tide of the economy lifts the yachts far more than the dinghies.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
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.
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