Salaries by Occupation

65 occupations from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) — with the number no one else computes: take-home after federal, FICA and state tax, in every state.

Quick answer

According to netpaytally.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data (155,495,730 jobs), the average salary in the US is $50,980 per year at the median ($24.51/hour) — and the median worker takes home about $41,617 ($3,468/month) after federal, FICA and state tax in the typical state. The mean, $69,770, runs higher because top earners skew it.

Average salary in the US: the distributionBLS May 2025

Percentile	Gross salary	After taxes*	Monthly net
10th percentile	$31,200	$27,249	$2,271
25th percentile	$37,590	$32,384	$2,699
Median (50th)	$50,980	$43,142	$3,595
75th percentile	$80,520	$65,476	$5,456
90th percentile	$128,560	$99,137	$8,261

*Computed in a no-income-tax state (federal + FICA only, single filer, 2026). In the median state, the $50,980-earner keeps $41,617. State by state: states ranked by take-home pay.

Highest-paying occupationsnational median

Cardiologists$496,010 Radiologists$420,860 Surgeons, All Other$414,010 Anesthesiologists$391,490 Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$358,550 Dermatologists$328,730 Orthodontists$289,140 Psychiatrists$281,870

Browse all 65 occupations

Management2 occupations

Construction Managers$114,990 Human Resources Managers$149,280

Computer & Mathematical2 occupations

Actuaries$130,000 Data Scientists$120,230

Architecture & Engineering7 occupations

Aerospace Engineers$134,960 Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,280 Civil Engineers$100,840 Electrical Engineers$120,630 Engineers, All Other$122,930 Mechanical Engineers$104,110 Petroleum Engineers$144,910

Life, Physical & Social Science1 occupations

Psychologists, All Other$110,840

Community & Social Service2 occupations

Marriage and Family Therapists$66,940 Social Workers, All Other$71,900

Legal1 occupations

Lawyers$159,670

Educational Instruction & Library1 occupations

Special Education Teachers, All Other$76,580

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media2 occupations

Graphic Designers$62,960 Interior Designers$67,190

Healthcare Practitioners & Technical32 occupations

Anesthesiologists$391,490 Cardiologists$496,010 Chiropractors$79,200 Dental Hygienists$98,100 Dermatologists$328,730 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,590 Emergency Medical Technicians$44,470 Neurologists$248,560 Nuclear Medicine Technologists$101,370 Nurse Anesthetists$236,590 Nurse Practitioners$132,300 Occupational Therapists$100,330 Optometrists$136,570 Orthodontists$289,140 Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$358,550 Paramedics$60,600 Pharmacists$140,910 Pharmacy Technicians$45,750 Physical Therapists$102,760 Physician Assistants$135,880 Physicians, All Other$265,930 Psychiatric Technicians$45,130 Psychiatrists$281,870 Radiation Therapists$105,310 Radiologists$420,860 Registered Nurses$97,550 Respiratory Therapists$82,280 Speech-Language Pathologists$97,870 Surgeons, All Other$414,010 Surgical Technologists$64,650 Therapists, All Other$77,930 Veterinarians$130,100

Healthcare Support7 occupations

Dental Assistants$48,070 Medical Assistants$45,690 Nursing Assistants$42,260 Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,300 Phlebotomists$45,230 Physical Therapist Aides$35,240 Physical Therapist Assistants$68,380

Protective Service1 occupations

Firefighters$59,280

Food Preparation & Serving1 occupations

Bartenders$34,340

Sales1 occupations

Real Estate Brokers$73,220

Construction & Extraction2 occupations

Carpenters$60,580 Electricians$63,190

Transportation & Material Moving3 occupations

Air Traffic Controllers$148,080 Flight Attendants$63,580 Taxi Drivers$42,100

Questions

What is the average salary in the US?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data covering 155,495,730 US jobs, the median annual wage is $50,980 ($24.51/hour). The mean is higher — $69,770 — because top earners pull the average up; the median is the better "typical worker" figure.

What is the average US salary after taxes?

A $50,980 salary keeps about $41,617 per year ($3,468/month) in the median state after federal income tax, FICA and state income tax — from $39,511 in the highest-tax state to $43,142 in the 9 states with no income tax.

What is a good salary in the US?

Above $80,520 puts you in the top 25% of US earners, and above $128,560 in the top 10% (BLS May 2025). What it feels like depends on state tax and cost of living — the same gross keeps $3,631 more per year in a no-income-tax state than in the highest-tax state, at the median.

Which occupations pay the most?

The highest national medians are Cardiologists, Radiologists, Surgeons, All Other — see the highest-paying list above, and each occupation page for state-by-state take-home.

Figures are annual median wages, May 2025 survey. Method: methodology.